The Adventures of Tom Sawyer · Chapter
Tom Reveals His Dream Secret explained
Tom returns home and is warmly received by Aunt Polly and Mary.
What happens
Tom returns home and is warmly received by Aunt Polly and Mary. He fabricates a dream to explain his knowledge of their conversation, which Aunt Polly believes, reinforcing her superstitions. Meanwhile, Tom's jealousy over Becky Thatcher's attention to Alfred Temple leads him to spite her by flirting with Amy Lawrence, causing further emotional turmoil. Becky, in turn, uses Alfred to make Tom jealous, and Alfred retaliates by inking Tom's spelling book.
Themes in this chapter
Superstition and Folk Belief
Aunt Polly's belief in Tom's fabricated dream highlights the role of superstition in daily life.
Childhood vs. Adulthood
Tom's manipulation of adults through his dream story contrasts with his childish jealousy and spite.
Friendship and Loyalty
Tom's betrayal of Amy Lawrence's trust and Becky's use of Alfred Temple show fragile loyalties.
Characters to notice
- Tom Sawyer
Returns home and tells a fabricated dream to Aunt Polly; flirts with Amy Lawrence to make Becky jealous.
- Aunt Polly
Welcomes Tom warmly, believes his dream story, and expresses hurt over his lack of consideration.
- Becky Thatcher
Uses Alfred Temple to make Tom jealous; later sees Alfred ink Tom's spelling book but decides not to tell.
- Amy Lawrence
Tom flirts with her to spite Becky; she is happily unaware of his motives.
- Alfred Temple
Inks Tom's spelling book out of anger after being used by Becky.
- Sid
Mentioned as the one who would have thought to comfort Aunt Polly.
Key passages
“That was Tom’s great secret—the scheme to return home with his brother pirates and attend their own funerals.”
Tom's big secret was his plan to come back with his fellow pirates and go to their own funerals.
Reveals the boys' prank of returning for their own funeral.
“Tom, you’ll look back, some day, when it’s too late, and wish you’d cared a little more for me when it would have cost you so little.”
Aunt Polly warns Tom that he will regret not showing more affection when it was easy to do so.
Aunt Polly expresses her hurt over Tom's thoughtlessness.
“Jealousy ran red-hot through Tom’s veins.”
Tom felt intense jealousy.
Describes Tom's emotional reaction to seeing Becky with Alfred.