Setting2

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There are two important settings in ‘Hideout’
 * __SETTING IN "HIDEOUT"__**
 * Kapiti Island
 * Pukerua Bay

Kapiti Island is a small island of the coast of Pukerua Bay. It is a mysterious and spiritual place which is also considered tapu (sacred) by the Maori. It is described as being almost alive. In the novel Roz feels a connection with the island. She also seems to hear voices which come from the island but doesn’t understand what they mean.
 * __KAPITI__** **__ISLAND__**
 * “Sounds freaky but I love that island. It’s alive”
 * “…light and misty, floating like a mirage on the sea”
 * “It breathes history. It’s elusive, remote, mystical”
 * “It was the ancestors…the island was looking after its own”

This setting is important as it helps show a main theme in the novel which is the importance of knowing who you are and where you come from. Roz does not know her father or her family history. She does not understand why she feels such a connection with the island or the voices she hears in her dreams. It is these voices that she claims told her to run away to Pukerua Bay with Dawn.
 * __WHY IS THIS SETTING IMPORTANT?__**

Later in the novel Roz finds out that her father was Maori. This means that she herself is part Maori and has Maori ancestry. This revelation helps Roz to understand the reason for the ‘voices’ in her head and her connection to Kapiti Island. She believes that the voices are her Maori ancestors and they led her to Kapiti Island. She also believes that they led her there to save her and Dawn’s relationship and also to help Roz achieve her dream of being a photographer. This results are meeting Vic and Don Nepia at Pukerua Bay. The combine their forces to publish a book on Kapiti Island.

Pukerua bay is a rough, crude, and ugly beach. It is described as “a rude noisy place” which has litter all over it and rotting seaweed. Roz states that the reason she likes the beach so much is because it isn’t your normal clean, beautiful beach.
 * __PUKERUA__** **__BAY__**


 * “it isn’t a pretty postcard type of beach”.
 * “the sand is coarse, the pebbles are hard and the seaweeds sharp”
 * “It’s a crackling, grinding beach, rough and angry. It makes me feel at home”

This setting is important as it helps reflect Roz’s emotional state. Just like the beach Roz is “rough and angry” inside. She is mixed up and stressed because of her situation with her mother and having to look after Dawn all the time. Roz also feels ugly on the outside and is very insecure of her appearance, particularly as Sylvia and Dawn are so beautiful and alike. The setting of Pukerua Bay helps give readers an insight into Roz’s character and how she is feeling at the start of the novel.
 * __WHY IS THIS SETTING IMPORTANT?__**