In "Hideout" the most important character is the main character Roz.
Roz is 15 years old and lives with her mother Sylvia and half-sister Dawn in Wellington.
Dawn's father lives in Auckland while Roz does not even know who her father is.
Roz's mother is an alchoholic and is extremely neglectful of both her daughters. Roz
has to act as a mother figure to Dawn who is only 9.
Roz also feels out of place and 'different in her family. Both Sylvia and Dawn are pretty,
slim and blonde. Roz on the otherhand has dark hair and eyes and is nicknamed "podgy"
by her mother. This makes Roz feel even worse as she already has low self-confidence.
Roz later runs away with Dawn to Pukerua bay to save her from being abused by Sylvia's
boyfriend Stan. While at Pukerua bay Roz undergoes a number of changes. She becomes
more confident after meeting Vic, learns that she cant't be responsible for Dawn anymore,
and realises that she needs to confront Sylvia about her fathers identity
WHY IS THIS CHARACTER IMPORTANT?
Roz is important as through her character readers learn the main themes of the novel
Running away doesn't solve your problems
Too much responsibility at a young age can be destructive
The importance of knowing who you are and where you come from
TECHNIQUES USED TO SHOW CHARACTER
Setting
Contrast
First person narration
Dialogue
Setting
Kapiti Island and Pukerua Bay are two settings that help readers understand Roz's character.
Kapiti helps show how Roz needs to find out who her father is and her heritage to feel complete and whole. Pukerua Bay helps reflect Roz's emotional state. It is a rough, angry and harsh beach. Roz feels the same way inside and also ugly on the outside. She feels comfortable at the bay because the environment looks similar to how she feels about herself and is symbolic of her inner emotions.
“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”
“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”
Contrast
Contrast is also used to help readers understand Roz’s character. This is the contrast between Roz and her younger sister Dawn.
Roz is 15 years old with long brown hair, has a dark complexion and is nicknamed “podgy” by her mother. Dawn on the other hand is 9 years old, has blue eyes, blonde hair and a “cute baby-doll smile”. Sylvia is also thin, blond and blue-eyed. Sylvia and Dawn are very similar while Roz appears the odd one out. This explains why Roz feels like an outsider in her family. Dawn also knows who her father is while Roz has no idea. Sylvia refuses to tell her. This technique is important as it helps show the theme of the importance of knowing who you are and where you come from.
“I was so different to Sylvia and Dawn…I was always the odd one out”
“Everyone looked at her. They never looked at me”
First person narration
First person narration is also used to give an insight into Roz’s thoughts and emotions. At the start of each chapter there is a diary style section in which Roz gives her personal reflections and thoughts about the events which happen in the novel. This section of the novel is always written in first person narration. This technique is particularly important as it gives readers a deeper understanding of how Roz feels about what happened at Pukerua Bay and what she has learnt through her experiences there.
“Not knowing was like not knowing half of myself…I felt incomplete”
Dialogue
Roz’s dialogue in the novel helps readers understand her character. In particular her dialogue shows how important it was to her to find out her fathers identity. Her dialogue also shows that she has realised how destructive her relationship with Dawn has become. At the end of the novel she knows she cannot go with Dawn to Auckland. Staying together would only damage their relationship further.
“How do I live with this empty space inside?”
“Not knowing was like not knowing half of myself…I felt incomplete”
“We were starting to be bad for each other. We needed each other too much”
“I couldn’t believe how light I felt, how free. I had no one to look after but myself”
In "Hideout" the most important character is the main character Roz.
Roz is 15 years old and lives with her mother Sylvia and half-sister Dawn in Wellington.
Dawn's father lives in Auckland while Roz does not even know who her father is.
Roz's mother is an alchoholic and is extremely neglectful of both her daughters. Roz
has to act as a mother figure to Dawn who is only 9.
Roz also feels out of place and 'different in her family. Both Sylvia and Dawn are pretty,
slim and blonde. Roz on the otherhand has dark hair and eyes and is nicknamed "podgy"
by her mother. This makes Roz feel even worse as she already has low self-confidence.
Roz later runs away with Dawn to Pukerua bay to save her from being abused by Sylvia's
boyfriend Stan. While at Pukerua bay Roz undergoes a number of changes. She becomes
more confident after meeting Vic, learns that she cant't be responsible for Dawn anymore,
and realises that she needs to confront Sylvia about her fathers identity
WHY IS THIS CHARACTER IMPORTANT?
Roz is important as through her character readers learn the main themes of the novel
TECHNIQUES USED TO SHOW CHARACTER
Setting
Kapiti Island and Pukerua Bay are two settings that help readers understand Roz's character.
Kapiti helps show how Roz needs to find out who her father is and her heritage to feel complete and whole. Pukerua Bay helps reflect Roz's emotional state. It is a rough, angry and harsh beach. Roz feels the same way inside and also ugly on the outside. She feels comfortable at the bay because the environment looks similar to how she feels about herself and is symbolic of her inner emotions.
Contrast
Contrast is also used to help readers understand Roz’s character. This is the contrast between Roz and her younger sister Dawn.
Roz is 15 years old with long brown hair, has a dark complexion and is nicknamed “podgy” by her mother. Dawn on the other hand is 9 years old, has blue eyes, blonde hair and a “cute baby-doll smile”. Sylvia is also thin, blond and blue-eyed. Sylvia and Dawn are very similar while Roz appears the odd one out. This explains why Roz feels like an outsider in her family. Dawn also knows who her father is while Roz has no idea. Sylvia refuses to tell her. This technique is important as it helps show the theme of the importance of knowing who you are and where you come from.
First person narration
First person narration is also used to give an insight into Roz’s thoughts and emotions. At the start of each chapter there is a diary style section in which Roz gives her personal reflections and thoughts about the events which happen in the novel. This section of the novel is always written in first person narration. This technique is particularly important as it gives readers a deeper understanding of how Roz feels about what happened at Pukerua Bay and what she has learnt through her experiences there.
Dialogue
Roz’s dialogue in the novel helps readers understand her character. In particular her dialogue shows how important it was to her to find out her fathers identity. Her dialogue also shows that she has realised how destructive her relationship with Dawn has become. At the end of the novel she knows she cannot go with Dawn to Auckland. Staying together would only damage their relationship further.