The stepmother in real life might not be as bad as in the novel because the novel is a fictional art form that often exaggerates the character image and behavior of the stepmother. The role of a stepmother had different views and explanations in the family and society. Some people believe that stepmothers exist to protect the former family members, while others believe that stepmothers are often the main culprits in abusing and bullying the former family members. However, in real life, the behavior of a stepmother is often affected by many factors, such as the relationship between family members, cultural background, social environment, and so on. Therefore, the stepmother's behavior was not always as extreme and bad as in the novel. Whether or not the stepmother was as bad as in the novel depended on the reader's opinion and understanding of the stepmother.