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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer · Character

Muff Potter

The town drunk, gentle and gullible, who wakes from a stupor to find himself accused of murder and has no memory with which to defend himself.

supporting

Also known as Potter, old Muff, poor Potter

First appearance: IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard

As a supporting figure in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Muff Potter is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Muff Potter is drunk, grapples with the doctor, is knocked out, and wakes to find himself holding the murder weapon, believing he may have killed Robinson.
In the storyIX: Tragedy in the GraveyardOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Muff Potter is the harmless, liquor-soaked fixture of St. Petersburg's jail and tavern, a man whose good nature and weakness make him an easy scapegoat. When he's charged with a crime he can't remember committing, the…

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The fuller portrait of Muff Potter sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Muff Potter in IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard

Character Web

17 connections

A slice of how Muff Potter sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

JTJeff ThatcherATAlfred TempleMDMr. DobbinsTSTom SawyerIJInjun JoeMPMuff Potter

Relationship types

  • Friendship
  • Rivalry
  • Other

Character groups

  • Central characters and family
  • Town residents and schoolmates
  • Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this chapter, the emotional peak occurs when Tom, having just reconciled with Aunt Polly and feeling lighth…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Muff Potter in IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard

In the story

Muff Potter appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Muff Potter unlock in the free preview.

See Muff Potter in IX: Tragedy in the Graveyard