An important conflict in "Hideout" is between Roz and Dawn. (see character for more information)
The main conflict between the two occurs when Roz and Dawn
are at Pukerua Bay. Dawn wants to call her father Rick who is
in Auckland, but Roz won't let her. Dawn yells at her and says "Your not my mother...Sylvia is". Roz replies "Well someone has to be".
This conflict becomes even worse when Roz finds out that Dawn
has been secretly trying to arrange to go and live with Rick. Roz
is hurt that Dawn kept this from her and even more so that the deal
didn't include her. Dawn tells her "he's my father not yours".
This is also a sore point for Roz who is deeply affected by the fact
that she does not even know who her father is. Roz feels like Dawn
is rejecting her and doesn't appreciate all the sacrifices she has had
to make to look after her. Dawn has also come to resent Roz's control
over her as she has become more of a mother figure than a sister.
WHY IS THIS CONFLICT IMPORTANT?
This conflict is important as it shows the theme of just how destructive too much responsibility at a young age can be. In this case Roz and Dawn's relationship starts to break down. Dawn relies on Roz too much to look after her but also starts to resent her control over her. Roz starts to resent having to look after her and the stress that it puts her under. She can not have a nomal childhood however she does not know what she would do if she did not have Dawn to look after. At the end of the novel Roz realises how unhealthy their relationship has become. This is shown when she decides last minute to stay with Sylvia instead of going with Dawn and Rick to Auckland. This conflict also helps Roz to realise how important it is for her to find out who her real father is. She later confronts Sylvia about this.
"We were starting to be bad for each other. We needed each other too much"
"I couldn't beleive how light I felt, how free. I had no one to look after but myself"
"Not knowing is like...like not knowing half of myself. I'm incomplete"
IMPORTANT DECISION
An important decision in the novel is when Roz decides to take Dawn and run away to Pukeura Bay. She does this to protect Dawn from being abused by her mother's boyfiend Stan. Roz had told her mother about the situation however she took Stan's side and didn't believe her story.
WHY IS THIS DECISION IMPORTANT?
This decision was important as it resulted caused both Roz and Dawn to change. Dawn became much more independent and begins to stand up to Roz instead of just doing what she tells her. An example of this is the fight they have about Rick and Dawn tells her "Your not my mother". Roz also changes considerably, she becomes more confident, realises she can't act as Dawn's mother anymore, and learns that she must confront Sylvia about who her father is. (See character change for more detail)
The changes in both Roz and Dawn are important because they help show the main themes of the novel which are:
That running away doesn't solve your problems
That too much responsibility at a young age can be destructive
It is important to know who you are and where you come from
IMPORTANT DECISION 2
Another important decision is Roz's decision at the end of the novel to stay with Sylvia instead of going to Auckland with Dawn and Rick. Initially Roz begged and pleaded to be able to go with Rick. He was reluctant because he already has another family and his wife is about to have another child. He eventually agrees however last minute Roz suddenly changes her mind. She tells the social worker at the family conference that she want's to stay "with Sylvia...I want to live with my mum". This is also the first time that Roz has called Sylvia "Mum" in years.
WHY IS THIS DECISION IMPORTANT?
This decision is important as it shows one of the main themes of the novel, the importance of family and knowing where you come from. Roz makes a deal with Sylvia that if she stays she has to take her to Granity to see her father. She knows she must find her father and family to be "complete". She also realises just how much Sylvia needs her. By staying with Sylvia this shows that Roz is now confronting her problems rather than running away from them.This decision also shows that Roz has learnt and that her and Dawn need to seperate for both their sakes. Dawn relies on Roz too much and Roz cannot have a normal relationship with her. It is a mother daughter relationship rather than sister sister. They have also begun to resent each other for this.
"Not knowing is like...like not knowing half of myself. I'm incomplete"
"You can look after Dawn now. I want to be on my own. Just Roz"
"We were starting to be bad for each other. We need each other too much"
Roz's decision to stay with Sylvia shows the themes:
That running away doesn't solve your problems
That too much responsibility at a young age can be destructive
It is important to know who you are and where you come from
An important conflict in "Hideout" is between Roz and Dawn.
(see character for more information)
The main conflict between the two occurs when Roz and Dawn
are at Pukerua Bay. Dawn wants to call her father Rick who is
in Auckland, but Roz won't let her. Dawn yells at her and says
"Your not my mother...Sylvia is". Roz replies "Well someone has to be".
This conflict becomes even worse when Roz finds out that Dawn
has been secretly trying to arrange to go and live with Rick. Roz
is hurt that Dawn kept this from her and even more so that the deal
didn't include her. Dawn tells her "he's my father not yours".
This is also a sore point for Roz who is deeply affected by the fact
that she does not even know who her father is. Roz feels like Dawn
is rejecting her and doesn't appreciate all the sacrifices she has had
to make to look after her. Dawn has also come to resent Roz's control
over her as she has become more of a mother figure than a sister.
WHY IS THIS CONFLICT IMPORTANT?
This conflict is important as it shows the theme of just how destructive too much responsibility at a young age can be. In this case Roz and Dawn's relationship starts to break down. Dawn relies on Roz too much to look after her but also starts to resent her control over her. Roz starts to resent having to look after her and the stress that it puts her under. She can not have a nomal childhood however she does not know what she would do if she did not have Dawn to look after. At the end of the novel Roz realises how unhealthy their relationship has become. This is shown when she decides last minute to stay with Sylvia instead of going with Dawn and Rick to Auckland. This conflict also helps Roz to realise how important it is for her to find out who her real father is. She later confronts Sylvia about this.
IMPORTANT DECISION
An important decision in the novel is when Roz decides to take Dawn and run away to Pukeura Bay. She does this to protect Dawn from being abused by her mother's boyfiend Stan. Roz had told her mother about the situation however she took Stan's side and didn't believe her story.
WHY IS THIS DECISION IMPORTANT?
This decision was important as it resulted caused both Roz and Dawn to change. Dawn became much more independent and begins to stand up to Roz instead of just doing what she tells her. An example of this is the fight they have about Rick and Dawn tells her "Your not my mother". Roz also changes considerably, she becomes more confident, realises she can't act as Dawn's mother anymore, and learns that she must confront Sylvia about who her father is. (See character change for more detail)
The changes in both Roz and Dawn are important because they help show the main themes of the novel which are:
IMPORTANT DECISION 2
Another important decision is Roz's decision at the end of the novel to stay with Sylvia instead of going to Auckland with Dawn and Rick. Initially Roz begged and pleaded to be able to go with Rick. He was reluctant because he already has another family and his wife is about to have another child. He eventually agrees however last minute Roz suddenly changes her mind. She tells the social worker at the family conference that she want's to stay "with Sylvia...I want to live with my mum". This is also the first time that Roz has called Sylvia "Mum" in years.
WHY IS THIS DECISION IMPORTANT?
This decision is important as it shows one of the main themes of the novel, the importance of family and knowing where you come from. Roz makes a deal with Sylvia that if she stays she has to take her to Granity to see her father. She knows she must find her father and family to be "complete". She also realises just how much Sylvia needs her. By staying with Sylvia this shows that Roz is now confronting her problems rather than running away from them.This decision also shows that Roz has learnt and that her and Dawn need to seperate for both their sakes. Dawn relies on Roz too much and Roz cannot have a normal relationship with her. It is a mother daughter relationship rather than sister sister. They have also begun to resent each other for this.
Roz's decision to stay with Sylvia shows the themes: