Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved ~Helen Keller.
In the book Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, two boys witnessed a brutal murder. Dr. Robinson hired Injun Joe, and Muff Potter to dig up a corpse to use for medical experiments. Unfortunately, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were also at the cemetery to see whether burying a dead cat there would be a good cure for warts. However, instead of proving this ridiculous cure, they ended up witnessing a quarrel between the three men ending in an unconscious Muff and a dead doctor. Injun Joe used poor Muff’s knife to stab the doctor. Then he convinced the town drunk that he had done it. The two men agreed to keep it a secret. Meanwhile, the boys had been traumatized by all they had witnessed. Terrified that Injun Joe would kill them if they said anything, they vowed to never say a word. When the town found Dr. Robinson’s body Injun Joe told everyone that Potter was the culprit. Unless the boys would speak up, an innocent man would be hung.
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Tom should have testified against Joe in court for these reasons: He would grow, he would earn recognition and he would set an example.
The first reason Tom should have testified in court is that it could develop his character. Even though witnessing in court would be scary, doing so would teach him the importance of not giving in to fear. Tom desperately needed to learn how to stand up to injustice. If he hid, he would be missing an opportunity to practice integrity.
Testifying against Joe would not only improve Tom, it would also make others see his improvements. By doing so, he would save Muff’s life. He would be a hero. The bravery that he showed would make Aunt Polly proud of him. This one little event would make Tom the talk of the