Throughout the novel "Swerve," by Phillip Gwyne, Hugh develops a totally new character when he returns to Sydney after his trip. Hugh is a bright child and his future is mapped out for him by the expectations of his parents but when he goes onto a road trip with his grandfather Poppy, it's the people he meets and the new experiences he has that change Hugh dramatically.
In the beginning of the novel, Hugh was a spoiled private school boy that was molded into a judgmental, close-minded, and law-abiding child by the upbringing of his parents. Hugh was sheltered and was restricted from all the negative influences in the world to which his parents blinded him from. Hugh despised less-civilized people and he criticized them quickly and harshly, he was uncaring to the broke and homeless and undervalued the indecent people of society. Agreeing to go with Poppy to Uluru was the first risky step that leads Hugh in being a completely changed person. "I had this feeling that I was making a horrendous mistake " Hugh was having second thoughts of going, thinking that he would disappoint his parents and he considers to "turn left, to go home ". Instead of turning left, returning home to a life set out by the expectations of his parents, he turns right and embarks on a road trip that changes his life, a road trip that makes him less conservative and more impetuous. .
The early of stages of Hugh's transformation takes place around Bathurst and Menindee, where he slowly develops courage and becomes more of a teenager than a private school boy. Hugh was put through different situations whether it was getting Poppy to the hospital or getting away from the police, he managed to get through and had gained experience that contribute in building up his confidence. "Don't! demanded my brain Hugh's instincts tell him to do the lawful thing, to own up to the police but another part of Hugh, a part he hardly knew "said, Do! " Hugh slowly adapts to the outback of Australia and becomes more hasty and daring.
