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Mariott Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Scam

To avoid the work of whitewashing the fence, Tom managed to convince his friends that he loved doing this chore and wouldn’t give it up for the world. He even acted reluctant to let them pitch in, as if not doing the task himself amounted to a huge sacrifice.

Tom Sawyer scammed himself more that he did his friends. Whitewashing the fence can be enjoyable. It depends entirely on your attitude.

This is a very famous story everyone should know. I feel a bit puzzled about the underlined sentence—he deceived himself too because he actually enjoyed the painting (not pretending to be happy). Does it mean Tom could have enjoyed whitewashing and actually it was an amusing task if he was fully present to the job? Or just literal meaning?

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

I'd say the author means that Tom did more work scamming his friends into whitewashing the fence than he would have if he had just done the job himself to begin with. I can't say I agree. If you read the actual story Tom ended up with a lot of loot and a fence with three coats of whitewash and did almost no work himself.

— Anonymous

  • I'd say the author means that Tom did more work scamming his friends into whitewashing the fence than he would have if he had just done the job himself to begin with.
  • I can't say I agree.
  • If you read the actual story Tom ended up with a lot of loot and a fence with three coats of whitewash and did almost no work himself.
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2 Answers
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I'd say the author means that Tom did more work scamming his friends into whitewashing the fence than he would have if he had just done the job himself to begin with.

I can't say I agree. If you read the actual story Tom ended up with a lot of loot and a fence with three coats of whitewash and did almost no work himself.
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