Role Model In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer
According to Business Dictionary, a good role model is “someone who other individuals aspire to be or look up to.” Tom Sawyer does not fit this definition for several reasons. Some characteristics of a good role model are trustworthy, honest, noble, reliable, and an independent thinker. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer is not a good role model because he is dishonest and mischievous. To begin with, Tom Sawyer is dishonest. He often lies to his Aunt Polly about where he has been. For example, Aunt Polly suspects Tom skipped school to go swimming and asks, “Didn’t you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?” Tom says,“No’m –– well not very much.” Aunt Polly then notices that Tom does not appear warm, to which Tom responds, “Some
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He is often tricking people into doing what he wants them to do. For example, when he tricks Ben Rodgers and his other neighborhood friends into whitewashing the fence for him, Tom says, “Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day? … Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence … Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn’t let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn’t let Sid.” (p. 14). Generally, a good role model wouldn’t trick people into doing his or her work. A second example is when Tom gives painkillers to Peter, Aunt Polly’s cat, “Aunt Polly entered just in time to see him throw a few double summersets, deliver a mighty final hurrah, and sail through the open window, carrying the rest of the flowerpots with him.” (p. 80). A good role model would not have put the cat in danger just for fun. While it can be said Tom Sawyer is not a good role model overall, it could be argued that he has some good qualities. Tom can be noble when he takes the blame for things he didn’t do. For example, Tom takes the blame for Becky when Mr. Dobbins asks Becky if she ripped his special book. Although it could be argued that Tom is a good role model because he is noble, he is more often than not lying to his friends and family and getting in trouble for his mischievous
He is often tricking people into doing what he wants them to do. For example, when he tricks Ben Rodgers and his other neighborhood friends into whitewashing the fence for him, Tom says, “Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day? … Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence … Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn’t let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn’t let Sid.” (p. 14). Generally, a good role model wouldn’t trick people into doing his or her work. A second example is when Tom gives painkillers to Peter, Aunt Polly’s cat, “Aunt Polly entered just in time to see him throw a few double summersets, deliver a mighty final hurrah, and sail through the open window, carrying the rest of the flowerpots with him.” (p. 80). A good role model would not have put the cat in danger just for fun. While it can be said Tom Sawyer is not a good role model overall, it could be argued that he has some good qualities. Tom can be noble when he takes the blame for things he didn’t do. For example, Tom takes the blame for Becky when Mr. Dobbins asks Becky if she ripped his special book. Although it could be argued that Tom is a good role model because he is noble, he is more often than not lying to his friends and family and getting in trouble for his mischievous