Journal #5

Character Decisions: Reflection

In the novel Tuck Everlasting different characters must make choices that affect the plot

of the story. Specifically, Mae Tuck and Winnie Foster make pivotal decisions throughout the course of the book.

Relating to Mae’s decisions, I think the most important choice she made throughout the book was to kill the man in the yellow suit. Personally, I do not know if I would have done the same. Winnie was a complete stranger that they had recently met. However, I understand how they bonded together, given that she was the only person that they had ever confessed their secret to. I can see how she had come to care for her, how she was willing to kill for her. It is also important to notice that if the man in the yellow suit had indeed left with Winnie, he would have sold the spring water and the Tuck’s secret would be out. So, we are left to wonder if Mae killed the man in the yellow suit to protect Winnie, or to protect her secret, or maybe both. I strongly believe that murder is not right, not correct. Not in self-defense, not in any way shape or form. I would be saying that one individual’s life is more or less important than another’s, which I do not believe to be true. I can see and completely understand situations where it is the only way out, where it is the only option, or just what had to be done, for the greater good, perhaps, but this does not make it okay to take somebody’s life.

On the other hand, we have Winnie’s choices. A very important decision Winnie makes is to sneak out of the house, once again, to take Mae’s place in jail. I think that after all, if Winnie had not gone wandering off to the spring, she would not have found Jesse. Therefore, all the events leading to Mae being in jail would not have happened. So Winnie, technically, is responsible for Mae being in jail and owes something to her. Personally, I would not have the courage or bravery to do what Winnie did. Even though Winnie had a great feeling at heart, she did participate in something illegal, a crime, she became a criminal. In conclusion, Winnie had great intentions, but I would not do what she did, for I do not wish to become a criminal.

I would have chosen regular way of living because, as Tuck said: “There’s no living without dying.” If I can’t die, I feel like I have no motivation, nothing to propel me forwards, to keep me going. Knowing that one day, time will eventually run out motivates me to get things done. It also makes me want to do more things, to be more productive. Might as well make the most of the time I have. If I were immortal that stimulus would be gone. If I have all of eternity to do it, why do it now? All in all, I would definitely rather be mortal than immortal, because I would have chosen regular way of living because, as Tuck said: “There’s no living without dying.” If I can’t die, I feel like I have no motivation, nothing to propel me forwards, to keep me going. Knowing that one day, time will eventually run out motivates me to get things done. It also makes me want to do more things, to be more productive. Might as well make the most of the time I have. If I were immortal that stimulus would be gone. If I have all of eternity to do it, why do it now? All in all, I would definitely rather be mortal than immortal, because having an end time motivates to get things done and makes my time more worthwhile.