Character+Change2

**__CHARACTER CHANGE__** An important character who changes in the novel is Roz


 * __CHANGES IN ROZ’S CHARACTER ARE:__**
 * She becomes more confident and happy with her appearance
 * She realises that her relationship with Dawn had become destructive
 * She realises it is important to know who her father is and confronts Sylvia

At the start of the novel Roz is very self-conscious and shy. This is shown by how she tries to hide behind her hair and how she compares herself with her pretty little sister.
 * __EXAMPLES WHICH SHOW CHANGES:__**
 * __She becomes more confident and happy with her appearance__**


 * “I usually wore my hair long and loose, fringe drooping over my eyes. Excellent for hiding behind”.
 * “Everyone looked at her. No one looked at me, a lumpy teenage girl. Who wants to look like Paris Hilton anyway?”.

At the end of the novel Roz is much more secure. Her relationship with Vic, whom she met at the bookstore in Pukerua Bay, helps improve her self-confidence. Vic likes Roz for who she is and she ends up going on a date with him in the last chapter. She also confronts her mother about her father’s identity and pulls her hair back from her face instead of using it to hide behind.


 * “I stood up. I pushed my hair behind my ears”

Roz eventually realises that she cannot act as Dawn’s mother anymore. Dawn has come to resent her and Roz cannot be a normal teenager with that kind of responsibility. This realisation is shown when at the family conference Roz suddenly announces that she wants to stay with Sylvia. This is after begging Dawn’s father Rick to let her live with them in Auckland. Roz explains by saying:
 * __She realises that her relationship with Dawn had become destructive__**


 * “I thought you wanted to stay with Dawn and live with us? “Not any longer”
 * “Something was going wrong even before we ran away”
 * “We were starting to be bad for each other. We needed each other too much”

Roz is released from her responsibility and is surprised by how relieved she is. She did not realise how much stress she was under.
 * “I couldn’t believe how light I felt, how free. I had no one to look after but myself”
 * “I want to be on my own now. Just Roz”

Roz confronts Sylvia at the family conference as to who her real father is. Sylvia is reluctant to tell Roz because of the situation that she met him. However Roz tells Sylvia:
 * __She realises it is important to know who her father is and confronts Sylvia__**
 * “Not knowing is like…like not knowing half of myself. I’m incomplete”

Roz makes a deal with Sylvia. The conditions of her staying with her instead of going to Auckland are that she tells her who her father is and takes her to meet him. Roz finally finds out that her father’s name is Rewai and he moved from Titahi Bay to Granity to be with his family. Once she is told this information she states:


 * “it all fits”

Roz now feels ‘whole’ rather than ‘incomplete’. She also understands her link with Kapiti Island as her father is Maori. The fact that Roz also decides to stay with Sylvia rather than leaving with Rick shows she realises how important family is, even an imperfect one. Roz also sees that Sylvia needs her just as much as she needs her mother.


 * __WHY ARE THESE CHANGES IMPORTANT?__**

These changes in Roz's character are important as they help show the main themes of the novel. That you cannot run away from your problems, that too much responsibility at a young age can be destructive, and that it is important to know who you are and where you come from.