Written in part to inform Hughes's son about what lay ahead for him in school and in life, Tom Brown's Schooldays focuses on the theme of what it means to be a mature English citizen. Hughes, a devout Anglican, sees maturity resting ultimately on the individual's acceptance of the sovereignty of God as evidenced in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. But Hughes does not associate Christian maturity with self-denial but rather with active involvement in life and all that it has to offer. For Hughes the ideal man is physically robust, intellectually alert, socially aware, and morally forgiving.

Hughes develops his theme primarily through Tom Brown, the novel's protagonist. Initially Hughes emphasizes the physical side of Tom's personality—he loves to play games, take jaunts, and make mischief. Academically, Tom does only what he has to do to pass his courses. Tom is...