Wednesday, July 9, 2014

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, who seemed more scared in the graveyard?

In chapter nine, as the two boys realize other people are in the dark graveyard at night, it is Huck Finn who appears more afraid of this fact than Tom Sawyer. Their dialogue goes as follows:

“Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, same as cats. I wisht I hadn’t come.”
“Oh, don’t be afeard. I don’t believe they’ll bother us. We ain’t doing any harm. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won’t notice us at all.”
“I’ll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I’m all of a shiver.”
“Listen!”
The boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed. A muffled sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard.
“Look! See there!” whispered Tom. “What is it?”
“It’s devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is awful.”

As we can read above, it is Huck who says he wishes he hadn't come, Huck who notes he is shivering with fear, and Huck who says the presence of strangers is "awful." It is Tom who tells Huck not to be afraid and who manages to keep a level head throughout the situation.
In chapter 10, it is Huck who is most anxious that they both swear not to tell anyone what they witnessed. Huck seriously wants them each to sign a blood oath to remain silent. Tom goes along with it, but this is not because he is afraid. It is simply that a blood oath captures his imagination and is part of a game to him.

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