Characters

The main characters in the short story “Hemi’s Gift” by TJ Corrigan are the unnamed narrator and Hemi. The interaction between the two characters is important for the development of the story. While the narrator initially tries to distance herself from Hemi, the two end up connecting with each other during the journey.

The narrator is a young Māori woman going on a bus ride to her home city of Whāngarei following her father’s death. She is grieving and upset and wishes to be alone. Hemi is a Māori man who boards the same bus as the narrator. He does not seem to care what people think about him. He proves to be a kind and compassionate person and his presence eventually turns out to be a comfort for the narrator. Her shifting attitude towards Hemi marks her development.

You can read a full characterization of the narrator and Hemi in the following sections.