Critical Evaluation of Stone Cold by Robert Swindells Essay -- English

Critical Evaluation of Stone Cold by Robert Swindells A novel that I have read recently is "Stone Cold" by Robert Swindells. In this novel there are two main characters called Link and Shelter. These characters have very different personalities. I intend to consider the ways in which the author has created these two very different personalities and will explain my reaction to each of them. This novel tells both sides of one story, Links side and Shelters side. Link is a 16year old boy that left home because of family troubles and Shelter is a 47year old man who was discharged from the army on medical grounds and doesn't agree with this. He thinks it is his duty to get rid of the homeless. Link moved to London to get away from it all (his family) and became homeless. Shelter doesn't like the homeless, he just thinks they are a "waste-of-space" Shelter begins to bribe them into going back to his flat where he intends to kill them! Shelter kills many of Links friends and Link begins to wonder why they are all going missing. He does some detective work and then the truth is finally revealed. In this novel Link is one of the main characters. During this novel we are made to sympathise with Link. One of the ways in which we are made to sympathise with him was when his stepfather Vince treated him unfairly "slapping him about". This did not happen on only one occasion in fact it happened everyday: "I'd been with my mates, he locked me out the house". Even although this was not Vince's house he still thought he had the authority over Link and his mother to do this. This also showed how much Vince disliked Link. Another way in which we are made to feel sorry for Link was when link was homeless and could... ...lpless person didn't have a clue what they were getting themselves into. Link and Shelter are the complete opposite of each other. Link is a very caring character that hasn't really achieved anything in life, whereas Shelter is a cruel, heartless person who has experienced military work in life. In conclusion I think Shelter is a horrible man. I feel sorry for Shelter because I think he feels he didn't achieve in life because he was dismissed from the army and he is coming back by killing the homeless. On the other-hand I think Link is a very kind and lonely person. No matter how poor he was he always helped his friends. I also feel sorry for Link, his family disowned him and he has no real friends. I thought this novel was a great read. It made me realise how hard and dangerous it is for the homeless to survive and also what a lonely life they lead.