Should Tom And Huck Have Kept The Doctor's Murder?

In the book Tom Sawyer by famed American author Mark Twain, alias Samuel T. Clemmons, Tom and his very best friend Huckleberry Finn witnessed the murder of a cherished physician in their humble little Missouri town on the banks of the colossal Mississippi river. Tragically, these two youth were tormented by the guilt of trying to decide whether or not to reveal the real murderer’s identity to set the suspect, who was innocent, free.
“Courage is the resistance to fear, the mastery of fear- not absence of fear” – Mark Twain. Tom Sawyer and his best friend Huckleberry Finn decided to keep the true murderer on the QT. Some people believe that Tom and Huck should have kept the doctor’s murderer a secret while others believe just the opposite. Tom and Huck should not have kept the doctor’s murderer’s identity a secret for three reasons it was the right thing to do, the town would trust Tom and Huckleberry, and justice would be served to Injun Joe.
The first reason Tom and Huck should not have kept the doctor’s murderer’s identity a secret is it was the right thing to do. Injun Joe emerged as the real perpetrator, not his helplessly intoxicated companion. Consequently, this alone should have pricked the boys’ hearts earlier than it did. To and Huckleberry desired greatly to keep their lives, and not to lose them at the ruthless

hands of Injun Joe. Tom would also make his beloved Aunt Polly proud of him, instead of being frightfully ashamed of him. Before, Tom Sawyer had been a baneful byword to the community. This gave Tom one more shot at redemption, consequently raising his “status bar” in the community. Lastly, Tom would have the most important accolade bestowed upon his shoulders, the smile of the LORD shining radiantly upon his face. There is no more impeccable award that can be bestowed upon an individual.
The second reason Tom and Huck should not have kept the doctor’s murderer’s identity a secret is the town would trust Tom and Huckleberry.

For the first time in his life Tom would actually viewed as credible. This possibly might persuade Becky Thatcher’s (Tom’s love interest) parents to consider Tom as a good fit to marry their daughter several years down the road, when the opportune time was at hand. Huck could reverse his family’s deplorable name as drunkards and criminals. Also, both boys would be respectable citizens in their tiny Missouri village. This one action might change their entire futures for the boys’ lives

drastically.
The third reason Tom and Huck should not have kept the doctor’s murderer’s identity a secret is justice would be served to Injun Joe. He needed to be in prison for committing such a heinous crime. That was the only fair thing to do. His comrade needed to be set free. The American legal system demand justice and a fair trial for all suspects alike, Native American or not. The doctor’s life would be avenged and therefore not soon removed from all living memory.
Tom and Huck should not have kept the doctor’s murderer’s identity a secret because it was the right thing to do, the town would trust Tom and Huckleberry, and justice would be served to Injun Joe. This issue matters to witnesses of terrible crimes when they are deciding to or not to testify about what they witnessed.