Hear, hear !

I sympathise Jack as he does not have the love from a father from such a tender age, and also because he faces financial difficulties in his home. As written in the passage, Jack's mother was "a poor widow who had an only son named Jack". Jack has lost his father in a very young age and does not have many chances of experiencing the love from a father. This is a reason why I sympathise with him. Also, being a widow, peniless and helpless, Jack's mother must have faced many difficulties in bringing up her son, and even providing for her own needs. Their only source of finance is their cow, Milky-White. Being dependent on just the milk given by the cow, we can tell that they are financially unstable. This can also conclude that Jack may not have many luxuries in his childhood and may even be malnourished due to the lack of money in his home. However, the story also highlights his bad character. When Jack was going to sell his cow, Milky-White, he was being asked by an old man, saying that he would trade his magic beans for Jack's cow. Hearing that those magic beans would grow right up to the sky overnight, Jack was tempted and eventually traded his cow for the magic beans. Not only so, when Jack climbed up the beanstalk, which the magic beans had grown into, he would visit the ogre's house for food. Gradually, Jack found out the mystical things the ogre had in his home and took advantage to steal those objects. This stresses his greedy and bold character and shows that he is not easily contented. However, I believe that Jack has done all these actions just because of his financial difficulties and simply wants he and his mother to lead a better life. Thus, I sympathise with him.

I sympathise with The Giant as his gold and valuables have been stolen time and time again by Jack, and he eventually died innocently. From the passage, Jack has stolen the ogre's valuables for a total of three times: first it was a bag of gold, then it was the ogre's golden hen, and lastly his golden harp. I find this very unfair for The Giant as his valuables have been taken away with no rhyme or reason. The golden hen and harp might be his and his wife's sole financial source. Without them, they would have lost their financial support and might have difficulties in providing for themselves. Also, at the end of the story, when The Giant was chasing Jack who was running away with the giant's golden harp, Jack had chopped off the beanstalk with an axe, and caused The Giant to fall to his death. I feel very sorry for The Giant as he was just trying to retrieve his valuables but had ended in his death. His home might also have been destroyed as Jack had chopped off the beanstalk that supported The Giant's home. Thus, The Giant deserves my sympathy. However, it is also wrong for The Giant to harm others. The passage states that he devours boys for his meals. Taking away lives of children is inhumane and he does not have any right to do so.