The Bone People: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Bone People" is a novel that intricately explores the lives of three primary characters: Kerewin Holmes, Joseph (Joe) Kakaukawa Gillayley, and Simon P. Gillayley. Kerewin, a reclusive painter in her thirties, lives in solitude until her life intertwines with that of Joe and Simon, leading her to confront her own need for connection and ultimately build a family. Joe is a part-Maori factory worker grappling with the loss of his wife, which has led him to alcohol and a cycle of violence, particularly towards Simon, his foster son. Simon, a mute child of unknown origin, communicates through gestures and writing, and despite facing abuse, he exhibits affection towards Joe, illustrating the complexities of their relationship.
The novel also features supporting characters like Piri Tainui and his mother, Marama, who represent the deep familial bonds and cultural values within the Maori community. As Joe seeks redemption and embraces his heritage, he aims to create a nurturing home for Simon and Kerewin. Additionally, Tiakinga Meto Mira, an elder tasked with preserving Maori beliefs, plays a pivotal role in Joe’s transformation. Through their journeys, the characters navigate themes of love, trauma, and the search for belonging, making "The Bone People" a profound exploration of human relationships and cultural identity.
The Bone People: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Keri Hulme
First published: 1983
Genre: Novel
Locale: New Zealand
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The 1970's
Kerewin Holmes, the protagonist, a painter. A large-boned woman in her thirties who likes to adorn herself with rings, she lives alone in a tower-house that she built for herself. In her desire to avoid human contact, she has cut herself off even from her own family. She is kind to Simon, however, when he appears in her Tower, and she later comes to love both him and Joe, his foster father. Through her involvement with them, she learns her own need for others. At the end of the novel, she marries Joe and establishes a real home for Simon.
Joseph (Joe) Kakaukawa Gillayley (kah-kow-KAH-wa gihl-LAY-lee), a part-Maori factory worker. A dark-skinned, broad-shouldered man in his thirties, he has a deep, musical voice and an appealing smile. Since the death of his wife, Hana, Joe has indulged in alcohol and in brutality, regularly beating his foster son, even though he loves the boy. During the course of the novel, Joe exorcises his demons and commits himself to Maori traditions, as well as to making a new family with Kerewin and Simon.
Simon P. Gillayley, a child of unknown parentage who was washed ashore from a shipwreck and adopted by Joe and his wife about three years before the time of the novel. A small, thin, sharp-featured boy of about six with a shock of blond hair, Simon cannot speak and communicates by gestures and by writing. His missing teeth and body scars are evidence of the beatings he has endured. Although he is an affectionate child, he is a compulsive thief, and he is given to fits of violence and vandalism. Despite Joe's brutality, Simon loves him deeply. After the earthquake, he runs away from a foster home to find Joe. In Kerewin, for the first time he finds a real mother.
James Piripi (Piri) Tainui (pee-ree-PEE tay-ee-NEW-ee), Joseph's cousin, a Maori. He is a thin, slight man with large, gentle brown eyes. It is he who picks up Simon from Kerewin's Tower when the boy first appears there. He and his parents are deeply concerned about Joe's abuse of Simon, but he hopes that the problem can be resolved within the family.
Marama Tainui (mah-RAH-mah), Piri's mother. A kind, elderly woman, she has deep maternal feelings for both Joe and Simon. Aware that Joe is beating Simon, she takes the child whenever she can, and she continues to urge Joe to let Simon live with her and her husband, Wherahiko. Simon confides to Kerewin that he does not want to go to Marama because she cuddles him and weeps about his father, a reminder to Simon of the brutality that he wishes to keep secret. In the celebration that ends the book, Marama is seen surrounded by all of her grandchildren, who can sleep safely beside her. Thus, she represents the ideal of the close Maori family, an ideal that will be attained by Kerewin and Joe in their new relationship.
Tiakinga Meto Mira (tee-ah-KEEN-gah MAY-toh MEErah), an elderly man who considers himself the keeper of the Maori faith. A brittle, shriveled man of seventy-nine, he has lived for sixty years in an isolated place by the sea, guarding the stone and the rotting canoe that mark the home of the old gods. Having inherited his charge from his grandmother, he has been waiting for his successor. When he rescues and nurses Joe after his suicide attempt, Mira realizes that Joe is that successor and passes his charge to him. Mira also tells of his encounter with Simon's father, a heroin addict, who died there. Relieved of his responsibility for the sacred place, Mira dies and is buried by Joe.