SPM 2006

Q: The writer describes the main character as a very determined person. (character)

    Write about:

        - Some instances that show the character’s determination

        - How the determination affects his / her family

A:

After reading the novel step by wicked step by Anne Fine, I find that the character Colin is a very determined person. Here are some reasons how Colin show his determination and how it affects his / her family.

First and foremost, Colin’s biological father left him when he was merely a few weeks old. His mother then remarries with a man name Jack. Thus, Jack became his stepfather when Colin was only 8 months old. They did many things together. Jack would walk Colin to school or even go to the park with him during the evenings. Sadly, good things don’t last long. Colin’s mother had some marital problems with Jack since he refuses to get a proper job. This caused Colin’s mum to leave Jack without saying goodbye and without Colin being aware of it. Colin also lost his concentration and will to do well in school and many of hid quarrels with his mum started because of this.

This has cause Colin to hate his mum for doing so and hated his new school. Colin misses his stepfather very much and he was determined to see him again. He even remembers how long it has been since he last saw his stepfather. “Five years, 8 months and seven days.” Colin was so determined that he takes the time to write a letter to Jack, sadly he did not get a reply. “I wrote a letter…There was no answer.” He misses him so, that even though he does not know how to skate he still goes to the skating ring to listen to Jack’s favourite song – “The Bluebird of Happiness”. That is because the skating rink would play the song repeatedly. “Every forty five minutes,” Colin corrects Claudia in the novel. Colin only hums the song; he had made a vow not to sing it unless Jack returns. “I’m saving the words till I find him.”

Colin is determined that Jack would come and find him one day, that he still keeps the boots with the tobacco tin in it, as it reminded him of Jack. Sadly, his unaware mum had thrown it away. Colin’s determined to grow up fast and save enough money to allow him to have the ability to find his stepfather one day. “As soon as I’m tall enough, I’m off.” He even does three paper rounds to save more money. “I even do three paper rounds.”

Although, we could clearly see that Colin is very determined to find his stepfather, his determination had affected his relationship with his mother. It started when Colin’s mother had left in a sudden and kept their whereabouts as a secret.

There was also a few times where Colin and his mother argued as Colin did not understood why his mother can’t get along with Jack. As in Colin’s eyes Jack is an amazing father figure that takes care of him. However, in reality Jack and Colin’s mother have marital issues as he does not want to go out and look for a proper job to sustain the families finance. “You only saw his good side,” said Colin’s mother in the novel during the argument.

When they moved to a new place, Colin started suffering from a lack of a father figure. He misses his stepfather so much that even though years have passed Colin still talks to him although he is not around. Colin also started saving up money just to try to find his stepfather in the future. His mum is unaware as she is so caught up with her own problems that she does not see his suffering.

In conclusion, we can see that Colin was a very determined person because he persevered in his decision to keep his stepfather in his heart and even took up part time jobs to save up for his journey to look for his father. This decision affected his relationship with his mother negatively and they have tiffs over it.