The Importance of Small Details in Gutter Child Essay Sample

Big machines such as airplanes can only function because of small and minor components, thus books operate the same. In the novel Gutter Child, Jael Richardson uses minor characters to enrich the story. Richardson uses the character Violet to improve Elimina’s character development. This is a big part of the book as it takes place early on and continues till the very end. Richardson uses minor characters Violet and Josephine to help build Elimina’s character, this allows the reader to view her as a projection as a “project” child's day and life as well as someone who is strong and strives through her problems, she was viewed as an untrustworthy person throughout the story. Violet's character portrays as a bully in beginning chapters and Richardson uses Josephine to enrich the plot further because of an opinion switch by others. In the book, a lot of controversies occurred for Elimina and changed many opinions on how people viewed her, as later on it was proved she didn't mean it, consequences are already made, word spread fast and she had gotten punished for it as well. It brings Elimina to gain character by overcoming these obstacles. In Gutter Child, Richardson uses minor characters of Violet and Josephine to help build up Elimina’s character, this allows the reader to view her as a projection for a “project” child's day and life as well as someone who is strong and strives through her problems, she was viewed as an untrustworthy person throughout the story. 

Violet gives Elimina a sense of reality and early in the book makes her stronger and braver. Violet treated Elimina differently in the very first chapters of the book, this led Elimina to be unwelcome and want to become stronger herself; to not let treatment get to her.“I think of what Mother used to say about hard work and sacrifice, of her response to tears that came when I wished for friends or when I prayed for people to stop staring at me. Struggle makes you stronger, Elimina.” (Richardson 334) The quotation signifies Violet treating Elimina poorly; Elimina remembers what her mother always told her. One can assume Eliminas mindset changed to her wanting to become stronger; the quote leads the reader to believe Elimina is sad. Elimina thinks of this advice her mother has given her to get stronger when she needed it, she believed whatever bad happens just makes you stronger. She is being treated differently because she is a “project” child, Elimina is a gutter child but has the privileges of a mainlander. Everyone in the academy is a gutter child and Elimina stood out instantly. When Violet put a dead rat in Eliminas room and put blood on her wall, Elimina felt unwanted and unneeded. “I don’t want to be here,” I say, crying into my arms to muffle the sound.” 47). The quote proves Elimina is treated harshly by Violet to an extent of not wanting to be at the academy anymore. When it comes to sadness there are stages, such as regular sadness but crying means you are truly hurt, one can believe Elimina felt very sad because no one treated her well and she was constantly reminded of by Violet. Josephine's character took a big toll on Elimina by affecting people around her instead of her directly, as well as conflicts she overcame. Josephine affected characters around Elimina and has unwillingly made people's views of Elimina change drastically. “I thought I could trust you, Elimina. I really thought you were a different kind of student. That you were special.” (Richardson 130). The quote shows how Mr.Gregors had a good view of Elimina, but it soon changes after he finds out Elimina had something to do with Josephones disappearance. It shows Mr.Gregors has trust in Elimina and it was soon changed after this one incident. Josephine affected Elimina a lot because she lost her red coat and that was her main lead to power. When Elimina lost her red coat she was back to being taunted and the reader can assume she feels empty without the coat. Consequently, when people changed their view on Elimina, it affected Elimina a lot as she had nothing to defend herself with.“The students at Livingstone treat me differently without my red coat. Some return to taunts and cruel notes payback for all the time I spent being the campus Red Coat.” (Richardson 133). When Elimina lost her red coat due to being the main suspect of Josephine's disappearance one can say she was powerless as it states she was treated differently without it. Students were taking payback and because Elimina didn't have any more power than them, she says she was only miss treated now because of the red coat, students changed their view on Elimina as they are now disliking the view of her when she had the red coat. It shows Elimina has no power without the red coat. When everyone switches up on Elimina, the reader could infer Elimina is powerless and lost. Hence, this is how Josephine's disappearance affected Elimina and changed people's opinions about her.

In conclusion, the book uses characters, Violet and Josephine, to build character for Elimina and to enrich the plot of the book as well. When Elimina was facing harsh treatment by Violet she overcame and got her mindset stronger to not get hurt by Violet's words, it could be interpreted Josephine's disappearance took a toll on Elimina and affected her a lot, it grew the plot higher as the reader gets confused on what is to happen next. In the story Gutter Child, Jael Richardson uses characters Violet and Joseline to add plot into the story and to give Elimina character, in the end, the minor characters build up the story.