Steven Curren (Dad)

It is easy to quickly see the Currens’ father as the bad guy. However it is implied that at one time Steven Curren was a typical and even loving father. The novel joins the Currens when Dad is at his worst. A hardworking abalone diver he aims to provide for his family with now just the two sons, Harry and Miles, at home. A series of events are unveiled as the novel progresses and the father’s recklessness and brutality increases as the reader learns more of his troubled past.

Steven Curren’s wife had been having an affair with his brother Nick and they planned to flee with Harry, who it is thought to be Nick’s son. As they are leaving town a fatal accident halts their plans. Coming upon the accident, Steven removes his brother from the car and frames a scenario where Nick is seen to have drowned at sea.

His drinking habit, and an influential friend who possesses a mean streak, dictate Steven Curren’s actions after the accident. He is angry and abusive toward his children, having also been physically abusive to their older brother Joe who left home after such an incident. Harry and Miles live in fear of their tempestuous father. His destructive behaviour concludes in the ultimate act of cruelty when he throws Harry to his death from a fishing boat.

Steven Curran (Dad) Quotes

Then they heard Dad yelling from inside. Yelling at them, at everyone. Yelling at no one. And Miles could hear the words. They came through the brown walls, through the air, and cracked open the night: ‘I never wanted you.’ (Dad) Chapter 24

He just kept staring at Harry. And his hand moved away from Harry’s hair, moved down to the string around his neck. And he cupped it in his palm—a white pointer’s tooth.
‘It’s his’, he said, and his face went pale. ‘His.’
He let the tooth go. He stared down at Harry.
‘She was leaving, because of him. Because of you.’ (Dad) Chapter 36

Joe Curren

Joe Curren is the oldest of the three brothers. He moves in with his grandfather after having his arm broken in a scuffle with his father, who was enraged at the time. Determined to flee the abuse and indeed the island, Joe follows in his grandfather’s footsteps rather than his father’s, becoming a carpenter instead of an abalone diver. Joe continues to live at his grandfather’s house after his grandfather passes, cleaning up the house before setting out to sea on a boat he constructs himself.

Joe is caring toward Miles and Harry and, as the older brother, acts as a pseudo parent. He is too young to take full responsibility but intervenes when he can, urging Miles to look after Harry. Joe takes Miles surfing and spends time with him, but avoids his father. The novel ends with Joe and Miles setting off together on Joe’s boat, leaving their painful past behind as they embark on a new adventure.

Joe Curren Quote

He listened to Joe talk about all the places they would go, the tropical islands and clear warm water, the big bright lights of new cities. The free open space of ocean. And he knew that Joe was going to take him with him, now. Wherever he went. He leaned his head down against his brother’s shoulder. And he let himself cry. (Joe, comforting Miles) Chapter 41

Miles Curren

Although Miles is the middle sibling, he is positioned as caring for his younger brother Harry after his older brother Joe leaves home and the father fails in substantially caring for the two boys. After his Uncle Nick’s death, Miles takes his place on the abalone boat. He is responsible for manning the boat while his father, Jeff and Martin dive below. He is fearful of the day in which he will have to dive but feels its inevitability, with fate seeming to have chosen Miles’ path. Miles wishes he could have been a carpenter like Joe or like his grandfather, who was a real craftsman of fine furniture.

Miles is stuck between his many demanding and converging worlds. Only a child but old enough to feel the burdens of responsibility forced upon him, Miles must navigate the pressures like a boat in a raging storm. Harry needs Miles to shield him from their father and Miles is seen shielding Harry from Dad’s abuse, creating a childhood for Harry and taking him to Stuart’s place when things get scary. This responsibility leads Miles to dive into the cold Tasman Sea to attempt to save Harry after their father pushes him overboard. Miles must also please his father who demands he work on the boat. This is despite a friend of his father’s, Mr Roberts, urging that Miles not work on the boat as he considers it unfair. Joe takes Miles surfing and this is a brief respite for the young boy. Miles will ultimately leave the town but not before almost all he cares about is taken from him.

Miles Curren Quotes

First day of school holidays. First day he must man the boat alone while the men go down. Old enough now, he must take his place. Just like his brother before him, he must fill the gap Uncle Nick left. (about Miles) Chapter 2

There were things that no one would teach you—things about the water. You just knew them or you didn’t and no one could tell you how to read it. How to feel it. Miles knew the water. He could feel it. And he knew not to trust it. (about Miles) Chapter 2

‘Don’t you get stuck here with your dad’, he said. ‘Don’t you let him…You’re too young to be out there working, Miles. It’s not right.’ Miles felt the words sink down right inside him.
‘You’ve had it rough enough’, he said. (Mr Roberts to Miles) Chapter 11

Harry Curren

The innocent child in the novel, Harry sees the world around him in a simple way. He explores the coast and the people in a childlike manner that only accentuates the brutality of the older members of his family. Ultimately, Harry will be the vulnerable victim but until that time he is a sweet and blameless boy who counterbalances all that is cruel about the world around him.

Kind-hearted Harry is neglected by his father after the death of his mother. He is left alone when his father demands Miles works on the boat. His time spent exploring shows his caring side as he befriends a puppy and then its owner, George, a man discarded by society. When he gets a chance to go to the Hobart Show he is determined to purchase gifts for his friend Stuart and his brother Miles. He takes time to consider them individually and decide what they would like best. This selfless act and his friendly nature further speaks to the measure of Harry’s youthful innocence.

Harry loves his brothers and enjoys spending time with them. He waits on the beach while they surf and they give him a list of treasures to find such as shells and shark eggs. He is alone during the day and this is when he becomes friends with George who takes an interest in him, feeding him and taking him fishing.

Harry’s physical abuse at the hands of his father culminates in his father pushing him overboard in an attempt to dispel his pent up rage over his brother Nick’s betrayal and his wife’s unfaithfulness. Miles attempts but is unable to save Harry and the faultless child dies.

The Harry character may be viewed as representative of the metaphysical approach to life. His frequent pausing to reflect on life, the ocean, time and death in many ways seemed to be preparing Harry for death.

Harry Curren Quotes

Harry picked up an abalone shell, the edges loose and dusty in his hands. And every cell in his body stopped. Felt it. This place. Felt the people who had been here before, breathing and standing live where he stood. People who were dead now. Long gone. And Harry understood it, right down in his guts, that time ran on forever and that one day he would die. (Harry) Chapter 1

But Harry stayed where he was. He stayed among the piles of Granddad’s things left on the lawn—all the things that were no longer needed, no longer useful—and he wished that Joe would stay. (Harry) Chapter 14

And it nearly made Harry cry now, the way Miles’ eyelid was all purple and cut—the bruise on the side of his face coming up bad. Harry put his hand in his pocket and felt for the sock that held his leftover money. He pulled it out. ‘You should take this’, he said. ‘You might need it.’ (Harry) Chapter 27

Harry leaned his head back against the chair and thought that if Miles got lost, if Miles never came home, Harry’s insides would go wrong and they might never come right again. If Miles got lost. (Harry) Chapter 31

Aunty Jean

Aunty Jean is a dislocated member of the Curren family. When her father – the boys’ grandfather – dies she has a disagreement over the will with her brother-in-law – the boys’ father – and consequently becomes estranged from him. Aunty Jean takes some interest in her nephews but the time spent with them seems methodical and completed as some sort of obligation rather than driven from any warmth or nurturing. Harry’s innocence shields him from this when he spends time with her. The older Curren boys do not spend time with Aunty Jean.

Aunty Jean takes Harry to the Hobart show and is seen as a normal member of society talking about community members and watching them at the woodchopping. She emblematises a community that knows what is going on at the Curren house but fails to act.

Aunty Jean Quote

‘What am I meant to do? What am I meant to do?’ And he heard her voice rise up, familiar tears. ‘I grew up in that house, Miles. Don’t I deserve something?’ (Aunty Jean) Chapter 13

George Fuller

George is disfigured, scarred on his face and hands. He lives in a small shack and has a dog named Jake, who links him to Harry who wishes to play with Jake. The pair become friends and George passes on things he knew about Harry’s mother. He is paternalistic toward Harry and even toward Miles when he seeks asylum there one night after Dad’s drinking gets out of hand.

Harry and George explore the area and George takes Harry fishing. Harry spends some of the few dollars he has on buying the tea that George likes and dropping it off at his shack. Harry seems safe at the shack and moves about as if he belongs there. The two have a strong bond and after Harry dies, George finds his body and mourns his passing.

George Fuller Quotes

Kids at school were scared of George Fuller. Harry had only ever seen him once, standing on the side of the road, but he didn’t ever want to see him again. His face was all squashed in and he looked like a monster. Chapter 6

George didn’t say much, but he seemed to be listening. He seemed to understand what Harry was talking about. Chapter 10

Miles looked up at George, his eyes full of tears.‘You found him,’ he said. ‘Harry.’ And George nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said softly. Chapter 43

Mr Roberts (Brian)

Brian Roberts is a successful abalone diver who has increased his fleet size and upgraded his boats. He has a son who was friends with Miles when they were children. After making his fortune, he sent his son to boarding school to help him get away from the island. After Dad leaves Miles to go to the pub, Mr Roberts gives Miles a lift home and urges him to try and avoid working on the boat and following his father’s detrimental rules. Although he seems caring, ultimately he joins Aunty Jean on the list of people that fail to intervene in the Curren household to save the young boys.

Mr Roberts Quote

‘Don’t you get stuck here with your dad’, he said. ‘Don’t you let him…You’re too young to be out there working, Miles. It’s not right.’ Miles felt the words sink down right inside him.
‘You’ve had it rough enough’, he said. (Mr Roberts to Miles) Chapter 11

Jeff and Martin

Jeff and Martin are hard and rough men that work with Mr Curren on the boat. After Martin is injured in a shark attack, Jeff has greater influence on the boy’s father. He is complicit in plans to poach abalone in areas that are illegal. Jeff is present when he and Mr Curren get drunk and force Harry to have a drink. Harry is greatly upset and Miles steps in but has his head slammed into a coffee table. The boys flee to George’s house and are cared for there. Jeff joins the scuffle as Mr Curren shoves Harry. Jeff trips him and the boy is lost to the ocean. Jeff and Martin have their own reasons for acting the way they do perhaps also being trapped in a life they despise.

Jeff and Martin Quotes

‘Watch Jeff. I’ve tried telling your dad, but …’ Martin broke off. He rested his head against the cab of the ute. Chapter 9

Jeff rammed the glass against Harry’s mouth and forced his jaw open. The liquid poured in and Harry gasped and choked. Chapter 24