Symbols In The Running Man

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Michael Gerard Bauer the author of the Running Man reveals the experiences of a marginalised character called Tom Leyton, who struggles to be accepted by his community. Through the use of various techniques such as characterisation, symbols and the three narrative elements of the novel we capture the anguish and isolation faced by this character. It is through the use of these techniques that the author is able to reveal the secrets of Tom’s dark, gloomy past. The author touches on Tom’s experience in the Vietnam war together with the relationship with his young neighbour Joseph Davidson and the curious Mrs Mossop.

Tom Leyton who was misunderstood and judged in the text becomes more closed in due to the fact of people who changed him. The three parts …show more content…
These judgments have been made by Mrs Mossop who enjoys spreading rumours and talking about other people while they aren't around. This has resulted in Tom struggling to overcome the rumours that Mrs Mossop is telling everybody and that is how he became such a misunderstood person. His past is suddenly revealed when he meets Joseph and we learn about the character Tom Leyton. Symbols used in the book show Tom Leyton’s hobby of caring for silkworms. The symbol of the silkworm is used many times throughout the book and just before every new chapter. The silkworm symbolises love. Love can be seen with silkworms by Toms obsession with them. Tom claims “after seeing kids bring in silkworms to school I thought it would be great to have some of my own. So that night I prayed that I would receive silkworms… suddenly my brother brought me some silkworms”. It is from this quote from the book that we find out about Tom’s past and how he loves and cares for everything and isn’t selfish as Mrs Mossop rumoured to Joseph’s mum. My dream had finally come true he told Joseph and I had the opportunity to keep my own

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