Runner Friendship Quotes

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Runner Essay 2
Runner is a book that demonstrates the values of friendship. Discuss.

Runner is a novel written by Robert Newton which describes life in Richmond in 1919. The novel follows the protagonist, Charlie and his family, struggling with the effects of poverty, corruption and sorrow. However, there is an emerging theme which overpowers all these and that is the values of friendship. There are a vast amount of ‘values’ of friendship but the ones that occur in the novel are loyalty, companionship and trust. He establishes friendships with three main people in the book which are Alice, Norman Heath and Mr Redmond. The novel Runner clearly demonstrates the values of friendship.

Charlie Feehan meets Norman Heath during the race to see who becomes a runner for the infamous criminal, Squizzy Taylor. Although their friendship was made upon the con (where Squizzy hard-boiled Charlie’s eggs), he remains loyal to Charlie throughout the entire book. One night in Fitzroy Gardens, Charlie is practising his running speed by running around while Norman is kicking his football around. Shortly after, Jimmy Barlow shows up with a gang and decides to take the football. At this moment, Charlie was making a decision to run or stay and help Norman since they were going after him first. “Run, Charlie! Run!” (page 147) is an excellent example of Norman’s loyalty to Charlie. Possibly knowing that he may not play football again and give up his …show more content…

The values of friendship are engraved deep into the book and Robert Newton has used voice to shows these virtues. Runner shows the values of friendship through Charlie’s interaction with Alice Cornwall, Norman Heath and Cecil Redmond, each of them providing a value of friendship which benefits both parties. Runner is most definitely a book which demonstrates the values of

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