The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The whitewashed fence is an early symbol that represents Tom’s cleverness, his hatred for work, and his charisma. Whitewashing the fence is his punishment for skipping school. Worse, it requires him to work on Saturday: “[…] all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden” (11). The fence also gives Twain a chance to characterize Tom’s dramatic nature. However, Tom turns the odious chore to his advantage. He has an innate understanding of manufactured scarcity. When he pretends to enjoy the whitewashing and to appreciate its novelty, not only do the other boys ask to help, but they also pay him to let them work. In this way, the fence also symbolizes Tom’s ability to turn punishments and disasters into rewards.

Just like the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the treasure represents the end of a quest for Tom and Huck. It also represents them taking a step away from childhood. After Judge Thatcher and Widow Douglas lend out the money they found with interest, the boys are guaranteed adult salaries for the rest of their lives, placing them into an adult situation.