English Practise Essay
Michael Gerard Bauer’s novel The Running Man demonstrates through multiple characters the dangers of stereotyping and ‘putting people in boxes’. The characters that show this the best are Tom Leyton, Joseph Davidson and Mrs Mossop as they all have been judged and have been trapped.
Tom Leyton demonstrates to readers the dangers of stereotyping and trapping people in their homes like boxes. Tom supports this message as he has experienced them both. He has been judged and has terrible rumours about him. From is experiences during his life, he has locked himself away to prevent the terrible prejudice thought and opinions from other people like Mrs Mossop when she said; “ I hope so Laura, because I think Tom Leyton is a dangerous, sick man, and he’ll be watching your son.” (pg 11) Although Tom doesn’t know what Mrs Mossop thinks about him, he doesn’t want to see the expressions on peoples face when he steps out side and think of him like Mrs Mossop. Tom has been stereotyped ever since he came back from Vietnam. Like Mrs Mossop people think of he as a dangerous man and he is someone to stay away from. Tom Leyton demonstrates clearly that stereotyping and trapping people in themselves is dangerous.
Mrs Mossop highly shows the dangers of stereotyping and ‘putting people in boxes’. She demonstrates this, as she is the one that stereotypes about other people. Although she is the one stereotyping she is also judged by her gossip and judgements. Mrs Mossop is always judging a person by its cover and the story behind the first layer of skin and she is always the one that starts to pass it around as a rumour. Stereotyping like Mrs Mossop is highly dangerous as people can then start to not trust and share stories about them to her. People like Caroline, Toms sister, can’t imagine ‘Mrs Mossop staying still for more than a millisecond…. Certainly not her mouth, anyway.’ (pg.15) This demonstrates that people think that even though she like to share her opinion, she shares to much and talks in a prejudice way. Mrs Mossop’s opinions and judgements trap people in to thinking that she is always right. In doing this, people lose their confidence and self-esteem. Mrs Mossp is a prime example of the dangers of stereotyping and trapping people in themselves like boxes.
The danger of stereotyping and ‘putting people in boxes’ is also demonstrated through the character of Joseph Davidson. He portrays this message as he judged people before he knew them and finds out who they really are. He also has experienced being trapped inside himself like a locked box. Joseph at the start of the novel was judging and was locked away in his personal box. He would judge Tom from all the rumours told by Mrs Mossop. He would judge Tom Leyton ‘and now the brother whose existence she previously failed to acknowledge was now called ‘Tommy’ as if he were a harmless child.’ (pg 18) This is demonstrating that Joseph has a bad mindset on Tom Leyton as a character. As the novel progressed Joseph learnt the dangers of stereotyping and he broke from his box. In doing so he helped Tom break his slowly. Joseph Davidson has showed the dangers of stereotyping and putting other down and has realised that is was wrong.
The novel The Running Man has clearly demonstrated the dangers of stereotyping and ‘putting people in a box’. Through realising the dangers of stereotyping and being trapped in a box is not good, a few of the characters developed habits to go around those horrible moments. The dangers of doing these things can be consequential and Michael Gerard Bauer has demonstrated this magnificently.
