Character that you sympathize ?

The novel that i have read is Step by Wicked Step by Anne Fine. The character
that i sympathize in this novel is Richard Clayton Harwick. He is a young boy who
feels trapped in very unhappy circumstances. He loses his father to sickness. His
mother remarries a very cold and hard man and this causes much unhappiness to
Richard. His new stepfather makes life hard for him.

Reverend Coldstone is a harsh man who is strict and hard towards Richard. He
believes that Richard is too wild and needs to be taught manners. He shows no
love for Richard and sends him off to Mordanger School where Richard is treated
badly. This adds to his misery. There he is bullied and beaten. At home he was
beaten by his stepfather for every small mistake and the school experience makes
him more bitter about life. He is miserable and decides to act.

Richard realises that his mother will not take his side and his sister, Charlotte
makes herself happy by being nice to her stepfather. Therefore, Richard runs away
to a life at sea and does well there rising to the position of Captain.

When he returns, he finds that his mother has died of heartbreak. His
stepfather too had passed away and his dear Charlotte had died in childbirth. I feel
sorry for Richard for all he wanted was his family and love. He loved his parents
and sister and loses them all. Children become victims when families breakup.

Richard is a victim of breakdown in his family. He experiences much misery and
loss and these are reasons why I sympathize with him.