Q : Compare two characters

Based on the novel "Step by Wicked Step", written by Anne Fine, there are many different character. The novel is about 5 children that share their stories about how they handle their broken families after reading Richard Harwick's story. I am going to compare and contrast Richard and Colin. There are clear similarities and differences which can be observed throughout the story.

Firstly, Richard and Colin both love their dads. They both missed their fathers. Richard at times misses his father and sits by his father's grave. "Sometimes I sit beside my father's grave and I run my fingers over the letters of his name..." However, Richard's father died while Colin's mother brought Colin and moved away without the stepfather's knowledge. Richard had lost his father forever and he wanted to tell his father so many things. "...stamp to wake him up and tell him all the things that had gone wrong since he was taken from us." Meanwhile, Colin was still searching for his stepfather. He is very determined to find him. Colin remembered the exact date his father left. "Five years, eight months and seven days."

Secondly, they similarly are ignored by their mothers. They both did not get any attention from their mothers. Colin's mother is unaware of how he day dreams in school. Richard's mother did not show any form of care towards Richard. Both of them did not feel their mothers' love. The two boys differ in the ways their mother had neglected them. In Richard's case, his mother did not defend him when Reverend Coldstone treated him badly. This shows his mother does not pay attention to her child Richard. She do not defend Richard when Reverend Coldstone sends him to boarding school.  "All that my mother did was lower her eyes, or look away..." Richard feels she has become a traitor. "...I believe she is a traitor to my father's memory." In Colin's case, his mother is unaware how much he missed his stepfather because she is too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores.

Lastly, Richard and Colin believe that running away is a solution. Both of them decided that running away will make things work. In contrast, Richard ran away from home with the hope that he would make life more pleasant for everyone. "Mother, I think, would find life more pleasant without my dark looks and scowling face..." "Mr. Coldstone would greet my disappearance with pleasure." "As for Charlotte, she would, I am sure, learn to live without me..." Colin has plans to run away to find his stepfather. He has saved up every penny. He even does three paper rounds. "I keep practically every penny that comes my way. I even do three paper rounds." In the end, Richard realizes that running away does not solve any problems. He goes home to find everyone is dead through Charlotte's letter that was left for him. "...send this letter to our old home, to tell you why you return to cold, cold silence." Colin is still waiting for the time he is old enough to run away. "As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off."

As a conclusion, the two characters suffered much pain and sorrow. These two boys do not received enough love for boys their age. No one cares about them or how they felt. No one is there to hear their thought out and advise them. This could have changed Richard's life differently if his mother had done so and provided attention, love and care. Sadly they did not, while Colin has not, realised that running away does not solve problems. In fact, running away can affect the people around you and burden them in many ways just like in Richard's story. Acting out of impulse like Richard has damaged his family. We need to think wisely before making a serious decision in life.