The Handmaid's Tale: Character Analysis

The judgement I can make about Tom’s saving Luc’s life is because he did feel bad. Tom felt bad for killing a boy his age since they both had such long lives to live. He knew especially losing a family member was harsh. He thought what Luc’s family would go through. Tom knew since his mother passed away as stated earlier in the book. “Tom was born Canadian, but never knew his mother for she had died when he was born” (p.24). Also, the two boys were the same age, understood similar ideas, and experienced similar feelings. Tom was able to feel for Luc. “‘No!’ the boy yelled. ‘His rifle was empty; he’s unarmed. You can’t kill him. He’s a prisoner’” (p.207). Tom kind of knew that this “man” wasn’t really a man. He wanted to save Luc, especially

Even after Tom saved Luc, Tom felt that if he could tell Capitan Lashbrooke, he would let him go since he is a child. “Tom slipped in beside the Captain. ‘Sir,’ he whispered. ‘Do you recognize the prisoner?’ Lashbrooke looked at Tom as though he’d gone crazy. ‘Recognize him? What in God’s name are you talking about?’ The prisoner glanced at them. ‘I think he might be the same boy at the Crossing.’ The Captain waved Tom away. ‘You’re imagining things. That was a child at the Crossing. This is an enemy warrior - G Company doesn’t capture children’” (p.215-216). This passage shows that Tom thought he can find a way to let Luc escape. Moreover, the reason why Tom chose to give Luc the details is because he knew how it felt to lose friends. As he lost his friend Patrick Flaherty (known in the book as Paddy) “‘He [Patrick] was my friend. I shared a tent with him on the march up here,’ Tom replied. A stab of conscience nagged him’ (p.185). “‘Will you attack now and kill all my friends?’ Tom looked away…‘If so, then why did you save my life?’ Tom said nothing for a moment, then with a sigh, he answered. ‘No, we’re not going to attack. It’s over, we’re pulling back to make a fortified camp. Your friends have escaped this time’”