In the 'Afterword' to her novel, "I'm The King of the Castle", Susan Hill refers to "the evil of Hooper". To what extent do you consider Hooper to be evil?

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways." (Buddha) The word 'man' in this quote indicates a grown up, an adult, someone above the age of majority. However, in "I'm The King Of The Castle", this is not the case. After reading the novel, we are shocked. Our preconceptions about childhood innocence are shattered. Hill deliberately shocks us in a traditionally gothic style, by transgressing what …

…extract I had Kingshaw trapped in the pantry and Hooper letting gas into the room, eventually leading to Kingshaw blacking out. I decided that this was perhaps too dramatic, as Hooper's bullying is made most powerful in the way that it is so simple, but yet extremely effective. Hooper's bullying is the central tension in the novel and I tried to show that through my extract. I think I was successful in replicating Hill's style.