to get him to let Bem go. I pressed my knees into his back then I grabbed him and punched him twice in the neck Briscoe 308.
Through her thought, speeches, and reactions, it is obvious that Clare is a
brave person. She has the courage to fight against the injustice in her life. She is never afraid of the risks that will happen by fighting her mother back.
2. Smart
Apart of her physical appearance, Clare has complex and dominating traits. Besides her bravery, it is obvious that Clare is smart. From direct
description, others’ opinion, her thoughts, and her reactions, we can see Clare’s smartness. She also knows exactly what to do in dealing with problems that occur
in her life. In this novel, Clare is directly described as a smart person. She is good at
school and she really loves it. School was cool. I got my homework back with two stars – A++ and could
do better . I loved school and they thought I had potential. If I wanted to, I
could make it. School was the only place I was guaranteed no to get a beating Briscoe 152.
It is also stated that Clare is very good at serving costumers while she is
working at Roses. Her boss, Eileen also notices it. Clare is always able to find something nice to say in her costumers’ chosen outfit. As a result, she gets her
payment increased. I was a dab hand at serving the costumers. No matter how fat or ridiculous
they looked in their chosen outfit, I could always find something nice to say – some remark that would swing the sale. I was very good, and Eileen
knew it. I got a pay rise. We were all pleased with the progress of Clare Briscoe Briscoe 276.
In serving the costumers, Clare is also able to make any fat lady slim with a few kind words that she says. Using her flattering noises, Clare can shave inches
off the hips, thighs, and stomachs of her costumers. Everyone is just right in her eyes; no one is too fat or too thin. At last, they buy their desired outfit. It makes
the costumers love Clare Briscoe 386. Clare is very smart in holding her costumers’ heart.
Clare’s smartness is also seen by some minor characters. Approaching a spring term, for example, her mother asks Clare to work in a cafeteria for
workmen in Vassall Road. She is supposed to help John, the cook of the cafeteria. What she has to do is to help John in preparing the breakfast for the workmen.
Clare is very good at carrying out her job and John knows it. She is a quick learner and she knows exactly what to do. “While John was taking the money, I
asked the next lad what he wanted and he said the same. I very quickly got the hang of it” Briscoe 158. What Clare does really impresses John. Moreover, John
comments directly on Clare’s smartness, “You were good, kid, and you got the hang of things very quickly” Briscoe 159.
Her teachers also admit how smart Clare is. Clare always passes the exams with excellent marks. All of her teachers are pleased to see that.
Clare no longer makes excuses. Work is now on time and a great deal of thought goes into it. A truly excellent round of results – well done.
A very able girl – will go far. Clare has been making steady progress. If it continues she should do well
in the next set of results. A truly delightful and intelligent young lady with remarkable recall.
Should do well in life
Briscoe 273.
Through the way she thinks, we can also see that Clare is smart. One time Clare is in doubt whether asking for the job at Roses or not. She finally takes the
right decision. She eliminates the last choice; not going at all is not an option for her. Clare then decides to go home and clean herself first since she had been
crying and does not look fashionable at all. It is clear in her vision that she will not be able to get the job if she looks awful Briscoe 218. Clare is good in
considering some options and in taking the right decision in her life. Once her mother comes to see Clare and asks her to pay rent for Clare’s
stay in her house. When Clare is thinking about it, her mother suddenly looks for her purse on the dressing table. She takes it and empties the contents into her
hand. Clare starts to think that it is her fault. She then realizes that next time she should be careful and should not leave her purse out in full view. It shows her
smartness since she learns from the experience. My mother had taken all my money and left me with just half a crown. I
did not respond – I just ignored her. It was my fault entirely, because I should not have left my purse out in full view. The next time I would be
more careful Briscoe 363. From the way she reacts with people and situations is obvious that Clare is
smart. When she finds difficulties, Clare will seek for ideas to cope with them. She knows the right one to do. One night after her mother cuts her hand with a
knife, Clare wets the bed as usual for her anxiety. In order to avoid her mother’s beatings, Clare does some actions to hide it from her mother.
I wet the bed that night and some of it soaked into the carpet. Because the carpet was multi-coloured it was not easy to see exactly where the
watermark was, but the stench was quite strong. I got up early – it must have been about 6 a.m. – opened the window and shock the curtain back
and forth in order to get the smell out of the room. I then put the wet
clothes in the wardrobe, closed the door and made my bed again with a new pile of clothes, this time just under the window. My mother, if she
came into the room, would walk towards me so she might not discover the wet carpet. The smell was the only giveaway Briscoe 74.
One day, Eastman and Clare have a real bad fight. They are both close to
the window on the ground floor and as they struggle, Eastman catches her chin, pushing Clare’s head through the glass. However, at her age, twelve, Clare knows
how to deal with the situation. She knows the right actions to do. She then gets her coat, and leaves the house to meet her father, George. That night Clare decides to
stay with him. Then, she goes to the court in the next morning to report for the abuse done by her stepfather. She knows what steps to take in facing problems in
her life. George took one look at me and went to the cellar to retrieve his axe. He
put it in the car and asked me what happened. I told him that Eastman had had a fight with me and pushed my head through a window. I then said
that I was going to deal with it in the morning and it was not necessary for him to get involved. That night I stayed with George.
The next day, Monday, I asked Dad to drop me of at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court. I entered the building …
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘What can I do for you?’ ‘My stepfather keeps abusing me and I was just wondering whether I
could take out some action against him’ Briscoe 134. From the discussion above, it can be concluded that Clare is smart. It can
be observed through direct comments, character as seen by others, her thoughts, and her reactions.
3. Confident
