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Tom's Characteristics In The Great Gatsby

558 Words3 Pages

Tom’s characteristics affect his lifestyle, mindset, and individuality. Tom endures multiple adventure’s in which he is mischievous, trustworthy, honest, and brave. He paints a fence without painting it, witnesses a murder, saves an innocent man’s life, and struggles to stay alive in a cave with Becky Thatcher. Tom’s decisions are determined by his characteristics. Therefore, his traits frame his lifestyle, mindset, and individuality throughout the novel.
Tom’s lifestyle revolves around his mischievous actions. Aunt Polly had instructed Tom to whitewash the fence but he didn’t want to. Instead he tricked the people in the neighborhood to do the work for him. He made the job to whitewash the fence seem like a privilege. Evidently they all wanted …show more content…

When Tom encounters the murder of Dr. Robinson with his friend Huck they promise to never talk about what they’ve seen. Injun Joe had framed Muff Potter for the murder but if the boy’s told the real murderer would surely kill them. When Mr. Potter’s life is on the line Tom confesses in court what he saw that day. Unfortunately, he breaks his promise with Huck but he reveals the real person responsible with Dr. Robinson’s death. Although Tom does keep Huck safe by not mentioning the boy was also a witness of the murder. Injun Joe had escaped the trial room after the truth was revealed. As you can see, Tom Sawyer demonstrates that he is trustworthy and honest. He had put his life on the line to save the life of Muff …show more content…

Tom’s bravery is clearly displayed as he struggles to find a way out of the cave. Becky and Tom amble off by themselves in the cave and eventually become lost. After three days Becky is starving and is confident that she will die soon. Tom leaves her to find a passage out of the cave. Before he leaves she tells him to come back and be there when she is about to die. He acts courageous for her and tries to go find an exit. He finds a hole in the cave and they both escape from the cave. However, it takes Tom three days to recover and it takes Becky a week to gain her strength back. Clearly, Tom stays brave for Becky in this

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