Differences In 'The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer And Gary Soto's Born Worker'

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person 's determination”(Tommy Lasorda). As one could potentially see in this quote, the main focus is about one’s determination. Specifically a determination of two young boys out to seek what may seem as impossible, to make possible. From Author Mark Twain’s, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and Gary Soto’s, “Born Worker”, it tells a story of two boys by the name of Tom and Jose and how these two both find a way to achieve the goals they want to acquire. Tom and Jose are similar but some of their differences set them apart. There is no doubt that Tom and Jose are both determined, but for slightly different reasons. Jose is determined to make money for himself and his family by hard labor and Tom is determined to buy his freedom by manipulation and persuading words. As these quotes state, “He began to think of the fun he had planned for this day, and his sorrows multiplied. Soon the free boys would come tripping along on all sorts of delicious expeditions, and they would make a world of fun of him for having to work—the very thought of it burnt him like fire. He got out his worldly wealth and examined it—bits of toys, marbles, and trash; enough to buy an exchange of WORK, maybe, but not half enough to buy so much as half an hour of pure freedom. So he returned his straitened means to his pocket, and gave up the idea of trying to buy the boys. At this dark and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him!