Character+Change3


 * __CHARACTER CHANGE IN ROSE[[image:Denniston-Rose.jpg align="right"]]__**

A character who changes in the novel is Rose.At the beginning of the novel, before the changes started happening, Rose arrives at Denniston a brave, happy and cheerful child. She was friendly and outgoing and “when she smiled it was like the sun coming out”. She had an innocence and naivety about her that every child should have. Rose would walk into a house without knocking and generally trusted other children and adults.


 * __Events which cause Rose to change are:__**
 * The death of the Scobies
 * Stealing the donation box
 * Her rape by Billy Genesis

The first event that began changing Rose was the death of the Scobies. Samuel and Frank Scobie died in a mining accident. Jimmy cork (Rose’s father) was considered to be at fault for the deaths as the men were in the mine looking for him. Because Rose was closely associated with Jimmy she became an outcast in the Denniston community. Rose was teased and called “killer Jimmy’s daughter”. This event caused Rose to experience cruelty and rejection for the first time in her life. She starts to realise that not everyone can be trusted and becomes less confident. This is also the start of her loss of innocence and childish naivety.
 * __The Death of the Scobies__**


 * "Killer Jimmy's Daughter"
 * "Rose wouldstand transfixed by even a slight rejection"

Another change in Rose’s character was caused by Rose stealing the donation box at the school concert. Rose took the donation box at a concert that was held to unite the three different communities in Denniston and raise funds for a new school. The disappearance of the box caused a major uproar. Rose is questioned by Bella and she lies to get herself out of it. Bella believes her and Rose is never caught. This event changes Rose because she further loses her innocence. She realises that she is able to be sneaky and steal things to provide for herself. This gives her reassurance for the future in case her mother leaves her and shows her growing independence. She also realises that “grown ups don’t know everything” and can not always be relied upon.
 * __Theft of the Donation Box__**


 * "Rose knew too well that a child wasn't treasure"
 * "She sits quietly thinking about what has just happened and how grown-ups don't know everything"

A further change in Rose was the event of her being raped by Billy Genesis. Rose was forced to movedin with Billy and was subjected to sexual abuse and rape. Her mother new of his interest but stated that "she had to learn the way of the world sometime". After this event “she became like quick silver around men, when they reached out”. Rose becomes extremely mistrusting and suspicious around men whom she previously trusted, for example Con the Brake. The bubbly, outgoing, personality which once personified Rose withered and died under Billy’s mistreatment of her. As a result of this she became introverted and untrusting. Her appearance also changes dramatically. At the start she is portrayed as almost angelic, however after her rape she becomes sickly looking with dark circles under her eyes and is pale and thin.
 * __Rape by Billy Genesis__**


 * "Whats happened to you? You've become as surly as a goat"
 * "Rose wasn't afraid of the dark but she was afraid of Billy"
 * "Billy made me sick"
 * "These days Rose skipped like quicksilver whenever a man reached out"
 * "The life seemed to have gone out of Rose"
 * "thin and pale, dark circles under her eyes"

These changes in Rose are important as they demonstrate the main themes of loss of childhood innocence, and in a small town everyone has a responsibility to look after each other. Rose’s withdrawal from society helps show readers just how easily a child can be forced to grow up. It also helps readers to further understand the effects of losing your childhood innocence and the tragedy of being denied your childhood. On a wider note the novel shows that the way people act, behave and perceive things are based on the events that happen during their childhood years, as this is when they are most affected. Rose's character is important because she helps show these themes and how the experiences in your life are crucial in shaping who you are.
 * __WHY ARE THESE CHANGES IMPORTANT?__**

The theme is best shown at the end of the novel when Rose returns to Denniston and offers to pay for her board. She abandons her mother and arrives back to Denniston with only the help of other children along the way. This just goes to show how little trust Rose has left in adults and how independent she has been forced to become.


 * "Rose only trusted people her own age"
 * "I can pay for my board she said in her tight clear voice, older, much older than any childs should be"