书评

Rereading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer from the Oxford Bookworms Library, unlike my childhood fascination with Tom’s mischief, as a freshman, I have grasped the most precious essence of childhood from Mark Twain’s tale of this naughty boy’s adventures: the unrestrained childlike innocence and the courage to face the unknown. Tom Sawyer is by no means a "good boy" in the traditional sense—he skips school, lies, and plays pranks, yet through a series of whimsical adventures, he breaks the shackles of rigid rules, revealing the purest freedom and justice in the child’s world. Tom’s adventures are a rebellion against tedious life. He abhors the rigid classes at school and the trivial rules of family life, so he runs away to an island to be a "pirate" with Huckleberry Finn, summons the courage to testify against the murderer after witnessing a homicide in the graveyard, and even outwits the killer in a cave. These seemingly "unconventional" acts stem from a child’s instinctive pursuit of freedom and a straightforward judgment of "right and wrong". Tom is never a perfect protagonist—he hides the truth out of fear and worries his relatives and friends because of his playfulness—but these real flaws make the character break free from the "hero template" and become the embodiment of the "rebellious dream" that every child has had in their childhood. Mark Twain depicts children’s psychology incisively with a humorous and witty writing style. Tom uses a "whitewashing trick" to make his friends scramble to do his work for him, and weaves romantic fantasies of childhood with a "treasure hunt game". These details are full of childlike fun and implicitly satirize the utilitarianism of the adult world. When Tom steps forward at a critical moment to expose Injun Joe’s crimes, his image transforms from a "mischievous boy" to a "little hero"—this courage does not come from adult teachings, but from his inner commitment to justice. This makes me realize that bravery in childhood is never "fearlessness", but choosing to do the right thing even when afraid. Entering university, we are gradually wrapped up in the rules of academics and socializing, and the pure childlike innocence and fearless courage like Tom’s seem to be fading away. But The Adventures of Tom Sawyer reminds me that true growth is not about smoothing out one’s edges to cater to the secular world, but about always keeping a curiosity for life and a perseverance for justice. Tom’s adventures have long transcended childhood and become a spiritual symbol: no matter the circumstances, we must dare to break the yoke and be loyal to our inner love and conscience. This seemingly light-hearted children’s literature actually contains profound answers about growth. It makes me understand that childlike innocence is not naivety, but a soft armor against the secular world; courage is not recklessness, but a firm force to uphold one’s original heart.