The Truth and Tom Sawyer The road to the truth is long and full of annoying bastards. Alexander Jablokov The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, has many themes; one theme is the importance of truth in society. A Society is inevitable. It will always be there as a pleasure and a burden. Society expects, or perhaps demands, a certain behavior from the individual. If you want to enjoy the pleasures of society, then you must respect the rules of society. Tom Sawyer, THE MAIN CHARACTER, is an imaginative young man who sometimes allows his imagination and good humor to prevent him from telling the truth. Tom is very adventurous; he never misses an opportunity to play pirates, thieves or soldiers. We are introduced to Tom as he climbs out the window after a long night of frolicking with his friends. Soon after, Tom meets Huckleberry Fin. Huck is a social outcast who likes to live on his own terms. Tom and Huck become good friends. One night the two boys go to the cemetery and while there they witness the murder of the town doctor, Mr. Robinson. The boys saw Injun Joe kill the doctor and frame a drunk named Muff Potter, who seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The boys vow never to speak of the MURDER again. Later, Tom falls in love with his new neighbor, Becky Thatcher. The two eventually get engaged, but the engagement falls through when Tom accidentally mentions his former love while talking to Becky. The two argue and don't speak to each other. Meanwhile, the entire town gossips about Dr. Robinson's murder and the trial of Muff Potter. A lead quickly forms and Muff is put on the witness stand. Tom can't let innocent Muff go to prison. As the trial draws to a close, Tom testifies and points to Injun Joe's guilt. When the trial ends, the hunt for Injun Joe begins and Tom is treated like a hero. Tom feels guilty knowing that he broke a sacred oath with Huck. Becky and Tom soon become friends again after Tom takes Becky's detention at school for being careless with the teacher's things. Becky finds Tom very noble. Summer is approaching. Injun Joe is still at large and Tom and Huck are searching for treasure. While searching near an old ghost house one night, the two boys overhear Injun Joe talking about some loot he has hidden, and the boys are determined to find it. As an end-of-year celebration, Tom's entire class goes on a picnic and explores a cave near the woods outside of town. While in the caves, Tom and Becky get lost. The whole city searches for them, but THE BOYS can't be found. While in the cave, Tom sees Injun Joe snooping around. This inspires him to find a way out, which he does. After Tom and Becky return home, the caves are sealed, leaving Injun Joe and his treasure locked inside. Indian Joe starves in front of the cave's entrance gate and his treasure is discovered by Tom and Huck who had found a secret way to enter the cave. The boys become the richest men in town. Huck decides to break away from life as an outcast and moves in with a respectable widow in town. Tom and Huck are happy and rich and promise to always be together. Tom was an imaginative young man. Tom often used his creative imagination to escape punishment from his Aunt Polly. Tom could make up lies like no one else. Tom would use his adventures to escape the chaos of everyday life. When Tom had a hard day at school or had a problem with Sid, he went treasure hunting or went to play Robin Hood in the woods. Tom realized that it was his sincerity that had saved Muff Potter's life during the trial. HIS LIES saved.