literature: step by wicked step

What is the most important moral value that you have learnt from the novel you have studied? With close reasons from the text, give evidence to support your answer.

Moral value: Responsibility

• ·         Adults need to be more responsible when making decisions that concern the children.
• ·         Richard’s mother

o   She was manipulated by Reverend Coldstone and married him without thinking of the consequences that affect her children, especially Richard who was grieving for his father’s death. Her irresponsibility had caused Richard to suffered under the wrath of his stepfather

o   “All my mother did was lower her eyes, or look away, or press her fingers to the throbbing in her temples and beg Lucy for yet another  powder ‘for my poor, aching head’

• ·         Claudia’s mother

o   She refused to tell Claudia the truth about the split. She did not think about Claudia’s interest and was not supportive when Claudia became closer with her dad and Stella.

o   “‘Nothing,’ they kept saying. ‘Don’t worry. It will all be sorted out’”

• ·         Claudia’s father

o   He split with his wife without thinking of his daughter’s well being.

• ·         Colin’s mother

o   Being caught up with her own problems, she has no spare energy to really understand Colin and his wants.

o   “she was always too busy doing things like making toast and finding clothes for the next day to listen what to anything I said about school, and too tired to talk about much herself”

• ·         Colin’s stepfather

o   He did not bother to get a proper job

• ·         Ralph’s mother

o   Takes advantage over Janet’s efficiency

o   “and credit where it’s due, I’ve never seen your clothes come home so beautifully laundered. She even got those oil stains off Edward’s shirt.”

• ·         Ralph’s father

o   Allows Annabel to run things her own way at the expense of the children’s feelings.

o   Does not want any hassles or to face up to Annabel over the children

o   “‘and she disapproved of coffee, so we all had to drink dandelion tea,’ he shuddered at the memory.”

• ·         Pixie’s father

o   Selfish parent/spouse

o   “and rather than come in and help us sort it out, he’d just decided to tsay safely out of things, as usual.”

o   Cowardly

o   “‘That’s right!’ she hissed scornfully at the door. ‘Creep away! Leave it all to the Wicked Stepmother, as usual!’”

• ·         Pixie’s mother

o   Demanding

o   Critical of Lucy

o   “ ‘You take your mother! She expects me to do everything for you while you’re in this house"

o   Unfair

house”

o   Unfair