How does the home environment of both Billy Casper in a Kestrel For a Knave and Beka in Beka Lamb impact on their development?

Answer 1

billy lives in an unstable environment. it is hinted at that his mother is a 'lady of the evening' and has different men passing through the house at different periods in time, his half brother jud and him are constantly at each others throats and have a very unstable relationship. it is noticed that as a rule in the house hold that every one is responsible for taking care of themselves. As a result billy does what he needs to survive eg. steal to eat, disobeys his mother to further his education. Also billys determination can be a result of his home environment he sees his brother working in the coal mines ad is determined not to suffer the same future

Beka lives in a stable middle class family with both her mother and father present as influential factors, also there is the presence of her grandmother who keeps her in touch with the older customs so she is both grounded in the new and old and will be able to create her future with a mixture of both. Beka's family helps each other to survive and grow. beka through the support of her mother was able to stop her habit of lying. through the support of her father and the death of her best friend (who was like a sister) was able to strive and get an education and work on finding her position in society