# Avatea — The Coral Island character guide

> Avatea in The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0024-xxiii

## Snapshot

A Samoan girl taken in war and kept as Tararo's daughter, Avatea refuses the marriage her captor demands and becomes the island's most dangerous hostage.

## Who they are

Avatea is the still center of the novel's later tension: a young woman already engaged to a chief Tararo hates, stubborn enough to 'kick up a desperate shindy' rather than be handed to a rival. Her refusal to submit makes her both admirable and imperiled, since the penalty for continued defiance is to be sent as a long pig. Her fate is the lever that pulls the boys out of their island idyll and into the moral machinery of the Pacific.

## Relationships

### [Jack Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/jack_martin)

_friendship_

Avatea and Jack share a bond of mutual respect and protection, as Jack helps rescue her from captivity.

### [Peterkin Gay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/peterkin_gay)

_friendship_

Avatea and Peterkin share a friendly rapport, with Peterkin often showing kindness and humor toward her.

### [Tararo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/tararo)

_family_

Avatea is Tararo's daughter, bound by familial duty but often in conflict due to Tararo's harsh treatment.

### [Bloody Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/bloody_bill)

_friendship_

Avatea and Bloody Bill have a bond of gratitude and protection, as Bill helps save her from danger.

### [Ralph Rover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/ralph_rover)

_friendship_

Avatea and Ralph share a kind and supportive friendship, with Ralph showing empathy for her plight.

### [Jack Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/jack_martin)

_friendship_

Avatea and Jack share a bond of mutual respect and protection, as Jack helps rescue her from captivity.

### [Peterkin Gay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/peterkin_gay)

_friendship_

Avatea and Peterkin share a friendly rapport, with Peterkin often showing kindness and humor toward her.

### [Bloody Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/bloody_bill)

_friendship_

Avatea and Bloody Bill have a bond of gratitude and protection, as Bill helps save her from danger.

## In the story

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xx)

A young woman who shows sadness at parting and participates in the nose-rubbing farewell.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxix)

Mentioned as the native girl whom the boys plan to rescue from being sacrificed by Tararo.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxxi)

The native girl whom Jack hopes to rescue; mentioned as the object of their mission.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxxii)

The Samoan girl to be rescued; she agrees to risk the voyage and speaks some English.

### [The Flight – The Pursuit – Despair and its Results – The Lion Bearded in his Den Again – Awful Danger Threatened and Wonderfully Averted – A Terrific Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Rescued by the boys, she is captured again and seen unfettered in the canoe; her fate is central to the conflict.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Rescued native girl; is reunited with her lover and will marry soon.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxxv)

Married and sent away with presents and a native teacher.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters/avatea
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coral_island_se/characters