The relationship between Richard and his father is limited to the early childhood of Richard.
Richard does not trust his father neither does he have a sense of belonging towards him. He is defiant and looks for ways to taunt his father. He decides to take his father’s orders to kill the cat literally.
After the father deserts the family, he feels no sense of loss but of freedom which is compounded by hunger pangs which becomes part of his everyday life.
In adulthood, he is able to rationalize his father’s attitude and ends up not hating but pitying him.
Few candidates who answered the question missed the point as they were discussing racial discrimination.
