THEME
The main theme of this novel deals with the loss of childhood innocence.
Pattrick highlights the issue of growing up too fast and the responsibility
of parents and communities to ensure the safety of their children.
Minor themes which stem from this theme include:
Blindness, being aware of the voice of children
Awareness of oppression and abuse in society
Independence and survival
TECHNIQUES USED TO SHOW THEME
Pattrick uses a number of techniqes to help portray these themes to readers.
Contrast
Symbolism
Dialogue
Twist
Contrast
Contrast is used in the character of Rose. This contrast is shown in how her character changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. Experiences she has throughout her young live change and harden her. She has more experience and knowledge of life than a young child should ever have. At the start of the novel she is very naive, happy and trusting despite her mothers lack of parenting. However events such as the death of the scobies, stealin the donation box and her rape by Billy Genesis change her considerably. At the end of the novel she runs away from her mother and makes her way by herself back to Denniston where she offers to pay her way. This shows she has lost her innocence and no longer trusts adults to provide and protect her.
(see character change for more detail and quotes)
Symbolism
The donation box Rose steals from the school show is an important symbol which shows theme in the novel. Rose refers to the box and what is in it as her 'treasure'. This idea stems back to her 'father' Jimmy Cork's gold discovery, he gives Rose a piece for her birthday and tells her she has to find her own treasure. To Rose this 'treasure' offers a sense of security, she is not taken care of by her mother and has no father to rely on. She sees the 'treasure' as giving her independence and a means of supporting herself. She often adds to her stash various valuables which she steals from the people of Denniston. This helps show the loss of childhood innocence as it is quite sad that Rose feels the need to be independent and not reliant on adults for support, especially her mother. She has lost that childhood naivety that adults can make everything right - Rose knows better.
Dialogue
At the end of the novel Rose returns to Denniston on her own and without the aid of adults. She arrives at Bella's doorstep and offers to pay her own board. The dialogue used by Rose at this point of the novel reflects just how much her character has changed and what she has lost - her innocence, trust and naivety.
"I can pay for my board she says in her tight clear voice, older, much older than any child's should be"
Twist
A twist is used at the end of this novel to help show the theme of loss of childhood innocence. When Rose is forced to leave with her mother it is not known where she has gone or what happened to her . She becomes almost a phantom about whom stories and songs are told. A song is even sung about her called "The Denniston Rose". However in the last chapter of the novel Rose suddenly reappears on Denniston outside Bella Rasmussen's house. She asks to stay and tells her she can pay for her board.
This event is unexpected as the passage up to Denniston is hazardous and not easliy travelled, especially by a child. The only way up to Denniston is either to ride the incline or scale the crude foot track cut into the side of the hill.
The fact that Rose arrives unaided and without her mother shows how she has rejected the help of adults. She relied only on children to help her on her journey. The fact that she also takes responsibility for paying her board shows that she os no longer an innocent, carefree child. (see above quote)
The main theme of this novel deals with the loss of childhood innocence.
Pattrick highlights the issue of growing up too fast and the responsibility
of parents and communities to ensure the safety of their children.
Minor themes which stem from this theme include:
TECHNIQUES USED TO SHOW THEME
Pattrick uses a number of techniqes to help portray these themes to readers.
Contrast
Contrast is used in the character of Rose. This contrast is shown in how her character changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. Experiences she has throughout her young live change and harden her. She has more experience and knowledge of life than a young child should ever have. At the start of the novel she is very naive, happy and trusting despite her mothers lack of parenting. However events such as the death of the scobies, stealin the donation box and her rape by Billy Genesis change her considerably. At the end of the novel she runs away from her mother and makes her way by herself back to Denniston where she offers to pay her way. This shows she has lost her innocence and no longer trusts adults to provide and protect her.
(see character change for more detail and quotes)
Symbolism
The donation box Rose steals from the school show is an important symbol which shows theme in the novel. Rose refers to the box and what is in it as her 'treasure'. This idea stems back to her 'father' Jimmy Cork's gold discovery, he gives Rose a piece for her birthday and tells her she has to find her own treasure. To Rose this 'treasure' offers a sense of security, she is not taken care of by her mother and has no father to rely on. She sees the 'treasure' as giving her independence and a means of supporting herself. She often adds to her stash various valuables which she steals from the people of Denniston. This helps show the loss of childhood innocence as it is quite sad that Rose feels the need to be independent and not reliant on adults for support, especially her mother. She has lost that childhood naivety that adults can make everything right - Rose knows better.
Dialogue
At the end of the novel Rose returns to Denniston on her own and without the aid of adults. She arrives at Bella's doorstep and offers to pay her own board. The dialogue used by Rose at this point of the novel reflects just how much her character has changed and what she has lost - her innocence, trust and naivety.
Twist
A twist is used at the end of this novel to help show the theme of loss of childhood innocence. When Rose is forced to leave with her mother it is not known where she has gone or what happened to her . She becomes almost a phantom about whom stories and songs are told. A song is even sung about her called "The Denniston Rose". However in the last chapter of the novel Rose suddenly reappears on Denniston outside Bella Rasmussen's house. She asks to stay and tells her she can pay for her board.
This event is unexpected as the passage up to Denniston is hazardous and not easliy travelled, especially by a child. The only way up to Denniston is either to ride the incline or scale the crude foot track cut into the side of the hill.
The fact that Rose arrives unaided and without her mother shows how she has rejected the help of adults. She relied only on children to help her on her journey. The fact that she also takes responsibility for paying her board shows that she os no longer an innocent, carefree child. (see above quote)