Everyone must embark the journey from childhood into the adult world. In the novel Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, Tom begins as a mischievous boy, given to imaginative play and irresponsibility. He's constantly breaking the rules and trying to assert his own independence. However, as his adventures continue he experiences crucial events that provide evidence of him changing. He starts to move away from his childhood concerns and become more responsible. By the end of the novel Tom has proven he has matured. He understands things and concepts much clearer. He also defends ideas he would normally disregard. Tom learns that he needs to sacrifice the freedoms of which he was accustomed to in order to grow and finally begin to mature.
             Tom is always rebelling against one rule or another. He regularly hangs around with Huck Finn, a social outcast looked down upon by most of the town, with the exception of the children. Tom's Aunt Polly is repeatedly telling him not to hang around the boy, but Tom feels the need to go behind her back and do so anyways. He likes that Huck is always willing to follow him and go along with everything he does as well. Another example of him breaking a rule is when he and Joe Harper, a classmate, decide to play with a pinch bug instead of practicing their spelling words. Tom ends up with a few lashings, but doesn't seem to mind and still continues to ignore the set of rules. He wants to posture and let everyone know how tough and "brave" he is, becoming an ideal to the boys. Tom is told to take a painkiller everyday and he appears to be doing what he was told for once. Though he ends up feeding it to the cat instead. Of course he gets into trouble, but isn't very fazed because he is so accustomed to getting in trouble. Tom, like all the other boys, envies Huck Finn's lazy lifestyle and freedom. He is in a constant search for his own independence. He skips school frequently...