Summary Of The Book 'The Running Man'

The Running Man By: David. A 10B
Tom Leyton is a quiet, reclusive, alone and out of sight old man, living away from the world. He does not like being in the presence of others. He does not open up to anyone and doesn't accept or talks to anybody. But he soon finds his way to break out of his cocoon, because of a young boy named Joseph Davidson. He changes from being quiet and isolated to being happy, going back to reading his books and also starts to believe in miracles. 
Tom Leyton, a Vietnam Veteran, was being the subject of gossip by others. People spread rumours about him. Some would say that he was monster like. No one didn't even really know him. He was very isolated and wasn't social at all and would shut people out. He doesn't believe in miracles, he stopped reading his books and is just living a lonely, dark life all by himself.
Tom has been living for thirty years, hiding and scared of his Vietnam incident. He's scared of facing his fears. It made him live a dead, hidden life for all these years and

is suffering from Post traumatic stress disorder and ruined his life. When Tom was sent to Vietnam, he experienced all the horror life as a soldier. He lost his best friend, he got trapped by the enemy, he got injuries, and the worst was that he unconsciously killed a boy. Even after thirty years has passed, he still can feel the sorrow. When he became a teacher, he frightened a little Asian boy and was kicked out of the school. His nightmares about killing that boy eats him alive and the little Asian boy reminded him of the Vietnam boy he killed. He grabbed him in his arms, crying and begging for forgiveness. But when he was kicked out of the school, he stopped trying and began to do nothing about what happened, only living with his dark frightening thoughts. He gives up because he knows he cannot make peace wth his haunted past. He locks himself up from anybody who wants to come near his life again. 
Tom's characteristics before the war, were told by his sister, Caroline, to Joseph and by Tom himself when he recalls his memories when he was young as part of the conversation with Joseph. "Caroline gave Joseph an encouraging smile, 'I don't know if he understands himself sometimes.' She tossed her head back. 'He was so different once. So loving... so full of hope. If only you could've known him then, Joseph... I'm sure you would have liked him'". Caroline is always proud of her brother up until now. She doesn't give up on him, knowing that the real Tom Leyton is inside him somewhere. But sadly, Tom Leyton doesn't even try even changing again. He has given up. It can be seen to refer to Tom who, like the silkworm poem, is 'in prison' and seems too deep in his nightmares. 
For thirty years, Tom does not want to meet anybody but was concerned to meet Joseph. Joseph Davidson, Tom's neighbour and a young talented artist was asked to draw a portrait of Tom. A strange relationship starts to unfold between them as they met. Tom puts himself together and is willing to meet Joseph. There is something inside him that wants to meet him and is looking forward for the painting. The first meeting was filled with silence and awkwardness. Tom gives a helpful reaction to Joseph with that awkward situation. The author gives clues to the reader about reactions in certain events, like this. 'At no reactions did Tom Leyton speak, nor did he react on any way to the smattering of conversation that struggled to survive that afternoon'. Tom's reaction when he knows that Joseph has to see his face can be said to be thoughtful. After Joseph had finished, he showed it to Tom. He stood still. 'For a terrible moment Tom Leyton remained still, and the page hung in the air like threat. Then he raised his eyes slowly and stared at the crude portrait as if searching for some hidden meaning'. No sound, no response. While Joseph was about to leave, he steps in front of Tom's room and tries to interact with him. Surprisingly, Tom gives a good response even still with the coldness. It was the first time Joseph stepped in Tom's room. It was a sign that it is a good start for them. Tom starts to open the door and let Joseph come to his world. This is when bit by bit, Tom accepts Joseph in his home. As Joseph stays still, he starts to feel claustrophobic. Tom knew he wanted to leave, so he told him not to come back. This shows that Tom actually cares about Joseph, seeing that Joseph is uncomfortable. After meeting Joseph, Tom has been a little more open. After the war, Tom kept all his books in a storeroom. But after meeting Joseph, he starts to bring some of his books back into his room. Tom also is getting brave, talking about his past life. He is forced to open his darkest secrets from his past life and cause a transformation to happen after thirty years of living a dead life. He is alive again, at least for himself. Before Tom dies, he sacrifices himself for Joseph, to prove to him about miracles, as he starts believing in them.
'As Joseph’s eyes swept over the mulberry tree, the enormity of the task overwhelmed him. How long would it have taken? He gazed in wonder up into the branches. It was more miraculous than any dream. He stood in silent wonder as he were in some sacred place.
It wasn’t until Joseph began to circle slowly around the mulberry tree that he saw the old wooden ladder behind the incinerator. It lay where it had fallen something during the night, and next to it with his arms by his sides and his eyes staring skywards, was the still form of Tom Leyton.'
Tom's selflessness expressed his loyalty, his determination, his sincereness and his full hearted love to someone who matters to him. 
Young Tom was an innocent boy and when he believed in something, he would deeply believe in it and would really get into him.

A story Tom tells Joseph is about silkworms. Silkworms in Tom's childhood meant a significant meaning to him from when he was young until he is old. He once wanted to have a silkworm and prayed to God for one, only a single silkworm. But none was showing and he was very upset. "The shadow of a frown formed on Tom Leyton’s face and a hard edge of bitterness crusted over his words. ‘Just one silkworm ... such a simple thing. I was always thought that your prayers would be answered. You only had to ask. I believed it. So I would pray and close my eyes and reach out in the darkness for a leaf, any leaf ... hoping for miracle ... a tiny, silly miracle. Over and over again ...’ ‘But every time the leaf was bare. In the end I could hardly see the leaves through my tears, and when the light faded I cursed God with all the passion of

betrayal.’" 
When Tom tells stories about his past life, especially when he was a kid, he actually tells Joseph what he was like when he was younger. The way he tells his stories from many years ago, shows how upset he was to God about the silkworms. Joseph listening to his stories, drowns him to see how innocent Tom was to have so much hatred to God over a little wish that did not become true.
Tom Leyton slowly began to open up. Like a silkworm, wrapped in its own cocoon, Tom Leyton was wrapped in his own world. The cocoon then starts to open up and the silkworm becomes a part of the world until it's final breath, just like Tom.