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Whitewashed Fence Symbolism

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I believe the whitewashed fence serves as a symbol for Tom’s abilities to manipulate and trick people into doing what he wants. In this case, he is supposed to whitewash the fence as a punishment for trying to trick Aunt Polly. Instead, while he’s working, he convinces boys passing by that it’s “fun” to whitewash the fence and tons of them want to do it for him. In the book it states, “There was no lack of material; boys happened along every little while: they came to jeer, but remained to whitewash.” By manipulating the boys, they soon start even paying Tom to do work that he’s supposed to do.

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