Question

the adventures of tom sawyer by mark twain (adapted excerpt) judge thatcher hoped to see tom a great lawyer or a great soldier some day. he said he meant to look to it that tom should be admitted to the national military academy and afterward trained in the best law school in the country, in order that he might be ready for either career or both. huck finns wealth and the fact that he was now under the widow douglas protection introduced him into society—no, dragged him into it, hurled him into it—and his sufferings were almost more than he could bear. the widows servants kept him clean and neat, combed and brushed, and they bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had not one little spot or stain which he could bear and cherish in his heart and know for a friend. he had to eat with a knife and fork; he had to use napkin, cup, plate; he had to learn; he had to talk so properly that speech was become insipid in his mouth; the bars and shackles of civilization shut him in and bound him hand and foot. 1 select the correct answer. what theme does the excerpt most clearly reflect? a. it reflects the theme of childhood expectations and their impact on future choices. b. it reflects the theme of innocence and the joys of being a child. c. it reflects the theme of conflict between individual freedom and social expectations. d. it reflects the theme of isolation and lack of social connections.

Explanation:

The excerpt shows Judge Thatcher's expectations for Tom and Huck's struggle with the constraints of civilization. This indicates a conflict between what society expects of them and their own freedom.

Answer:

C. It reflects the theme of conflict between individual freedom and social expectations.