Final answer:
The choice to become an indentured servant involved significant risks including harsh conditions and potential death, but it also offered considerable benefits like passage to a new land and a foundation for starting a new life upon completing their service. Whether the risks or benefits outweigh each other is subjective to the individual's perspective and their situation at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing the risks and benefits of indentured servitude reveals a complex situation. Indentured servants faced harsh conditions and the very real possibility of death, which are significant risks. They were bound to their employers and lacked freedom, and if their employer didn't have food, neither did they. This precarious existence may not seem worth the eventual benefits. However, the benefits for surviving indentured servants were substantial: They received passage to a new land, possibly food, clothing, shelter during their service, and upon completion, many received land, tools, and other essentials to start a free life as colonists. These benefits provided a foundation for success in the New World, as former indentured servants became skilled laborers, farmers, or even wealthy landowners.
Considering these factors, whether the risks outweigh the benefits or vice versa is subjective and would likely depend on an individual's situation and their tolerance for risk. Some may view the potential for a new start as worth the danger, while others may see the conditions as too severe to warrant the gamble. Therefore, if I had to assess the situation based purely on this information, I would say that the benefits could outweigh the risks for those who survived their indenture and were able to capitalize on the opportunities afforded to them as a result, despite the harsh circumstances they had to endure.