Past the Shallows Character Analysis

Harry Curren

The youngest of the three Curren brothers. Harry is a sweet, innocent little boy who is neglected after the death of the boys’ Mum and left alone for the majority of the day while Dad… read analysis of Harry Curren

Miles Curren

The middle sibling of the Curren family. As the younger brother of Joe and the older brother of Harry, Miles must shoulder the responsibilities that his siblings are unwilling or unable to do. After… read analysis of Miles Curren

Joe Curren

The oldest of the three Curren brothers. Joe is a nineteen-year-old carpenter who is forced to look out for his younger siblings Harry and Miles after their Mum dies in a car accident and they… read analysis of Joe Curren

Dad/Steven Curren

The father of Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren. Although it is implied that Dad was once a typical father figure, he succumbs to an alcohol addiction and becomes terribly abusive after the… read analysis of Dad/Steven Curren

George Fuller

An old man whom Harry Curren inadvertently befriends. George, who is scarred by facial deformities, lives in a small woodland shack with his dog Jake. He is ostracized by the community due to his… read analysis of George Fuller

Uncle Nick

The late husband of Aunty Jean and uncle of Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren. Before his death, Uncle Nick was an abalone fisherman who worked alongside Dad on the family fishing boat… read analysis of Uncle Nick

Mum

The late mother of Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren and the wife of Dad. Harry and Miles were in the car during the crash that killed Mum but have blocked out most… read analysis of Mum

Granddad

The late father of Mum and Aunty Jean and grandfather of Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren. Before he fell ill and died, Granddad was adored by his three grandsons. The Curren brothers… read analysis of Granddad

Aunty Jean

Harry, Miles, and Joe Curren’s aunt. Aunty Jean is Granddad’s daughter, Mum’s sister, and Uncle Nick’s wife, and is crushed with grief after these three loved ones pass away… read analysis of Aunty Jean

Jeff

One of the abalone fishermen who works the boat with Dad, Miles, and Martin. After Martin is injured in a shark attack and takes a leave of absence from fishing, Jeff’s influence… read analysis of Jeff

Jake

George Fuller’s puppy whom Harry Curren meets in the woods on the way back from Stuart Phillips’s house. Jake initially leads Harry to George’s shack and breaks the ice between the little boy… read analysis of Jake

Justin Roberts

A childhood friend whom Miles Curren used to spend a great deal of time surfing with in the summers. Justin is the son of Mr. Roberts, whose newfound success as an abalone fisherman allows… read analysis of Justin Roberts

Mr. Roberts/Brian

A successful abalone fisherman who is the envy of other men in the community. His son, Justin, was once a close friend of Miles Curren, and Mr. Roberts’s role as a loving, supportive… read analysis of Mr. Roberts/Brian

Stuart Phillips

A friend and peer of Harry Curren who lives in an old, run-down trailer on the outskirts of town. Stuart’s mother runs a roadside berry stand for a living and allows Harry to stay with… read analysis of Stuart Phillips

Martin

One of the abalone fishermen who works on the boat with Dad, Miles, and Jeff. Despite his intimidating appearance, Martin is one of few adults in the story who treats Miles with… read analysis of Martin

Minor Characters

Gary Bones

A local bully who steals the shark tooth necklace that Miles Curren finds in Granddad’s shed amidst the wreckage of Mum’s car. This cruel act causes Gary and Miles to get into a violent fight on the beach that knocks Miles’s tooth loose.

Billy

Billy is the brother of George Fuller. Billy was a soldier who went missing in a war and never came home. Looking at a picture of Billy, Harry thinks about how horrible it would be if anything ever happened to his own brother Miles.