The novel that I have learnt is Step By Wicked Step written
by Anne Fine. The story is about five children; Claudia, Colin, Ralph, Robbo,
and Pixie who found an old green diary belonging to Richard Clayton Harwick.
After reading the diary, they realized that they have something in common,
which they came from broken families.
The
character that been through a lot of challenges in the novel is Richard Clayton
Harwick. Richard has faced a lot of when his mother, Lilith married to a
cold-hearted Mr. Reverend Coldstone.
First
of all, the challenge that Richard faced was when he had to accept Mr. Reverend
Coldstone as his stepfather. It was tough for Richard to accept Mr. Coldstone
as he was considered as a wild boy in the eye of Mr. Coldstone. Richard hates
him. Richard called him a black bat. Mr. Coldstone had been cruel to Richard.
Richard felt unloved since his mother and sister never defended him when he
confronted Mr. Coldstone. As a result, he made a decision to run away from his
home. In my opinion, Richard should not have run away from his family since he
was the only son to her mother. Since he knew Mr. Reverend Coldstone was a
cruel man, he should have stayed with his family as Mr. Coldstone can be the
same to his mother and sister when he wasn’t there.
Secondly,
the challenge that Richard faced was when he was sent to Mordanger School .
He
was sent there by Mr. Coldstone because Mr. Coldstone said this might help to him
to be good and not rebellious. His
mother didn’t defend Richard because she said his stepfather did this for his
own good. Richard faced a lot of challenges there. He learnt nothing except how
to freeze and how to starve. He even bullied and beaten but never once he tried
to complain it either to the teachers or his mother. In my opinion, as a
mother, Lilith should have defend her son and always be by his side. Even so,
these challenges had made him tougher and braver in life.
Thirdly,
Richard faced challenge when he had to be independent and work at a young age.
After running away from home, Richard worked as a cabin boy on a ship. He had
to do all the rough things and had no one to complain to. Despite came from a
wealthy family, he still have to worked at a young age to support him. His
mother should have taken care of him very well and love him very much since it
was the reason why Richard left home.
Next,
Richard also faced challenge when he had to decide whether to or not to stay
after knowing that the Harwick Hall was inherited to him. He was remorseful that
his mother had died of heartbreak. Ignorant of the many years she tried to
locate him. He wondered, had all these events occurred because of his wrong
decision? He was not any happier that that moment he decided to leave thinking
he was doing the right thing. In my opinion, Richard should have think wisely
before make any decisions that will not affecting people around him.
In a
nutshell, Richard faced a lot of challenges throughout his life.
