The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Lesson Plan

Discuss why the petition to pardon Injun Joe is one of Twain's jokes.

Twain is lampooning people who seek mercy for anyone regardless of what horrible crimes they have committed. Twain uses insults and irony to create the humorous effect of the scene.

As Twain points out, Injun Joe has murdered at least five residents of St. Petersburg, and had plans for several more, "but what of it? If he had been Satan himself there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to scribble their names". He also calls signers "sappy women" and says the petition asked the Governor to act like a "merciful ass and trample his duty underfoot". There are a few other insults in Chapter 33 which...