A prevalent theme throughout the short story “Tin Man", written by Judy Budnitz, is the struggle for self-worth, as the main character, Arnie, must decide whether he should donate his own heart to save his mother's life, or to let her die. The author cleverly portrays this idea through the variation of the main character’s willingness to go through with the transplant, all in reason to the influence of his entourage (characterization). The story begins with Arnie being extremely hesitant about the operation due to his initial dignity. However, as the story proceeds, the numerous occasions of…