Rose Pickles

Rose Pickles is probably the central character in the novel's ensemble cast. She is a young girl when the story begins and a married woman with a baby when it ends. Tellingly, Tim Winton chooses to begin Chapter I with the thoughts and experiences of Rose, which will prove to be among the most poignant ones in the story. Rose loves her father, Sam, but from an early age is aware of his weakness and irresponsibility. Even as a child, she vacillates between wanting to comfort him and to slap him. Her attitude toward her mother, Dolly, is much less accepting. She develops an early contempt for Dolly that changes over the years to an intense anger that approaches hatred. This is understandable, because Dolly is a miserable mother who emotionally mistreats her daughter, whereas Sam is loving but useless. Even so, Rose eventually develops a better...