Twain's background is crucial for understanding Tom Sawyer not just as an adventure story, but as a subtle, humorous critique of 19th-century American society.

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| Character | Role in the Story & Key Traits | | :--- | :--- | | | The protagonist. A clever, mischievous, and brave boy. He hates school and work (the "real world") but loves games and adventures. | | Huckleberry Finn | Tom’s best friend. A free-spirited outcast. He's superstitious and loyal, representing complete freedom from society’s rules. | | Aunt Polly | Tom’s guardian. She is a strict but caring figure who represents adult authority and morality in Tom's life. | | Becky Thatcher | Tom’s love interest. A pretty, blue-eyed blonde girl who often finds herself caught up in Tom's schemes. | | Injun Joe | The villain of the story. A vengeful, cruel half-Native American and a murderer. He represents pure evil in the novel. | | Muff Potter | The good-natured, kind, but foolish town drunk who is wrongly accused of murder. Tom risks his own safety to prove Potter's innocence. |