The trip to Jackson island is similar to a scene from Its a Wonderful Life. The boys see a search party out looking for them, and reassured that there are adults that care for them. While providing this reassurance for the characters, Twain is also poking fun at societies adults, who only see the value in something or someone when it is gone. Tom, specifically, gets his wish in these two chapters. After whining early on that he wished he were dead so his persecutors would really be sorry, he is able to briefly experience that reality. When he sneaks home and overhears the family missing him, and wishing they were kinder to him, he is reassured that he is important.