Chapter XX
Becky in a dilemma • Tom's nobility asserts itself
SummeryBack at school, Tom, now in a better mood, meets up with Becky and apologizes for the rudeness, but Becky blows him off and was looking forward to his whipping, later that day. As Becky enters the classroom she sees that Mr. Dobbins had left his key in the lock of his drawer. Becky proceeds to the drawer, finding an Anatomy book (Mr. Dobbins dream job was to be a doctor) and opens to find a naked anatomy picture. It was then that Tom walks in, startling Becky, making her rip the page. She begins to cry and blames Tom for making her rip it, realizing she was going to be whipped. Later that day, Tom takes the whipping for his spelling book, thinking he might have accidentally done it, and Mr. Dobbins finds the ripped page. He then goes around the classroom asking each student if they done it. When he reaches Becky, Tom knowing that she would break, jumps up and yells, “I done it!” He gets a vigorous whipping and has to stay after school, but Becky waits for him and tells him about who really spilled on his spelling book and how noble Tom was.
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Analysis |
After telling the truth to Aunt Polly, Tom has matured enough to apologize and even take a whipping with no complaint. Then, Tom's new found maturity and love for Becky took her whipping too. Following Tom's footsteps, Becky gave up her silly hatred and forgave Tom for everything. This chapter is really about the development of maturity in Tom and his relationship with Becky.
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Questions to think about |
As Tom slowly matures will others follow him?
Would Becky take a whipping for Tom? Is Tom and Becky's relationship totally fixed, or will they have many more bumps down the road? |
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