Doon Harrow Character Analysis in The City of Ember

One of the novel’s protagonists. Doon is 12 years old, serious beyond his years, and pragmatic. He doesn’t believe that things are great in Ember; the regular blackouts and dwindling food stores make it clear that something’s wrong. Doon has a mechanical mind and so studies things like electricity and insects, though he eventually admits that he’ll never understand electricity without seeing the generator. Because of this, getting a job as a Pipeworks laborer seems, at first, to be ideal, as the generator is in the Pipeworks. However, Doon’s first day on the job impresses upon him that every part of Ember is failing—and to make things worse, nobody knows how the generator works. This makes Doon extremely angry, something that Doon’s father warns him against time and again. Despite this, Doon takes his father’s advice to heart and dedicates himself to exploring the Pipeworks, looking for anything that might be useful. When Doon’s former friend Lina approaches him about her document, Doon agrees that it’s important and throws himself into helping her figure it out. Even more than Lina, Doon is hurt, angry, and feels personally betrayed by Mayor Cole’s corruption. He recognizes that engaging in the kind of corruption like Mayor Cole and Looper engage in doesn’t help anyone, but he also makes the mistake of believing that the correct course of action is to trust in other authority figures to make things right. Though Doon has good intentions, he also dreams of being a hero and receiving recognition of some sort for saving the city. Because of this, he insists that he and Lina keep their plans secret as they deduce that the Instructions detail how to leave Ember. They plan to announce their discovery at the yearly Singing, but this plan is foiled when Mayor Cole tries to arrest them. Doon manages to convert his anger into a more useful emotion as he uses it to keep Lina safe, and the two leave Ember with Lina’s sister, Poppy, unnoticed. Once aboveground, Doon feels like they’re supposed to be a part of that world.

Doon Harrow Quotes in The City of Ember

The The City of Ember quotes below are all either spoken by Doon Harrow or refer to Doon Harrow. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“Can you explain to me about the generator?” he asked. “Can you tell me how it works?”

The old man just sighed. “All I know is, the river makes it go.”

“But how?”

The man shrugged. “Who knows? Our job is just to keep it from breaking down.”

Related Characters: Doon Harrow (speaker), The Seventh Mayor, The Builders

Related Symbols: The River

Page Number and Citation: 48

Explanation and Analysis:

He found another supply closet at the far south end of the Pipeworks—at least, he assumed that’s what it was. It was at the end of a tunnel with a rope strung across it; a sign hanging from the rope said, “Caved In. No Entry.” Doon entered anyway, ducking under the rope. He found no sign of a cave-in, but there were no lights.

Related Characters: Mayor Cole, Doon Harrow

Page Number and Citation: 115

Explanation and Analysis:

“That’s the solution he keeps telling us about. It’s a solution for him, not the rest of us. He gets everything he needs, and we get the leftovers! He doesn’t care about the city. All he cares about is his fat stomach!”

Related Characters: Doon Harrow (speaker), Lina Mayfleet, Mayor Cole

Page Number and Citation: 158-59

Explanation and Analysis:

“If this were an ordinary situation, the mayor would be the one to tell.”

“But the mayor is the one committing the crime,” said Doon.

“So then we should tell the guards, I guess,” said Lina. “They’re next in authority next to the mayor. Though I don’t like them much, [...] Especially the chief guard.”

Related Characters: Lina Mayfleet (speaker), Doon Harrow (speaker), Mayor Cole, Redge Stabmark

Page Number and Citation: 161

Explanation and Analysis:

“My grandmother died.”

“Oh!” Doon’s face fell. “That’s so sad,” he said. “I’m sorry.” His sympathy made tears spring to Lina’s eyes. Doon looked startled for a moment, and then he took a step toward her and wrapped his arms around her. He gave her a squeeze so quick and tight that it made her cough, and then it made her laugh. She realized all at once that Doon [...] was the person she knew better than anyone now. He was her best friend.

Related Characters: Doon Harrow (speaker), Lina Mayfleet (speaker), Granny

Page Number and Citation: 161

Explanation and Analysis:

For a moment, the fear he’d felt when he saw the guards was replaced by rage. The familiar hot wave rose in him, and he wanted to grab a handful of his father’s nails or pot shards and throw them against the wall. But all at once he remembered: if the guards were after him, they’d be after Lina, too. He had to warn her. He dashed down the stairs, his anger turning into power for his running feet.

Related Characters: Doon Harrow, Lina Mayfleet

Page Number and Citation: 201

Explanation and Analysis:

“Because that’s what I suddenly realized on the roof of the Gathering Hall, Doon. I’d been thinking before that I had to leave Poppy because she’d be safe with Mrs. Murdo. But when the lights went out, I suddenly knew: There is no safety in Ember. Not for long. Not for anyone. I couldn’t leave her behind. Whatever happens to us now, it’s better than what’s going to happen there.”

Related Characters: Lina Mayfleet (speaker), Doon Harrow, Mrs. Murdo, Poppy Mayfleet

Page Number and Citation: 247

Explanation and Analysis:

Disaster seems very close. Everything will be all right, they tell us, but only a few people believe them. Why, if it’s going to be all right, do we see it getting worse every day?

And of course this plan is proof that they think the world is doomed.

Related Characters: The Woman (speaker), The Builders, Lina Mayfleet, Doon Harrow

Page Number and Citation: 259

Explanation and Analysis:

Doon Harrow Character Timeline in The City of Ember

The timeline below shows where the character Doon Harrow appears in The City of Ember. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Selfishness, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon

A few desks away from Lina sits Doon Harrow. Doon’s corduroy jacket is so worn that its ridges are gone. Both Lina and... (full context)

Doon is the last to choose. He selects “messenger” and with a scowl, crumples and throws... (full context)

...thinks that this is where she wants to be, in the middle of things aboveground. Doon comes up behind Lina and asks to trade jobs—he wants to do something useful, not... (full context)

...worries what might happen if all the lights outside went out. She briefly wonders if Doon is right about the state of things, but she reaches a brightly lit street and... (full context)

Years ago, Lina and Doon were good friends. They did everything together until their fourth year of school, when kids... (full context)

...put her in the Prison Room. After hearing it, he smiles and sends her away. Doon sees Lina run out of the Gathering Hall. He’s on his way home from his... (full context)

Earlier that morning, Doon arrived at the Pipeworks, excited to do useful, important work. He finds a room filled... (full context)

Doon and Arlin stand on a six-foot wide path that runs parallel to the river. The... (full context)

Doon and Arlin find their job: a spurt of water coming straight out of the wall.... (full context)

Doon stands and watches for a few minutes as people run between the generator and big... (full context)

...breaks down forever if they run out of light bulbs first. This is what’s on Doon’s mind as he sees Lina on the roof of the Gathering Hall, and he’s angry... (full context)

Doon feels stupid for thinking he could understand the generator after a few minutes, especially when... (full context)

Doon apologizes and explains that he got angry. Doon’s father asks about Doon’s first day at... (full context)

Doon goes and fetches a box from his room and he and Doon’s father peer into... (full context)

When Lina looks up, she sees that Poppy’s rescuer was Doon. She thanks Doon profusely and tries to ask him about the Pipeworks, but Doon isn’t... (full context)

...12 times that the outage lasted seven minutes, and people seem afraid. Lina understands that Doon was telling the truth on Assignment Day, and that Ember is in danger. The following... (full context)

On the other side of the square, Doon and Doon’s father escape the crowd too and head home the long way. Doon suggests... (full context)

...thinks, a door out of Ember. Lina is thrilled, as she knows she can ask Doon about the Instructions. He’s curious, serious, and knows something is wrong. He also saved Poppy... (full context)

Doon starts spending time wandering the Pipeworks. Most workers do their jobs quickly and then play... (full context)

Doon hopes to find something interesting, but he doesn’t find much except for lost tools and... (full context)

Doon resigns himself to the fact that he’s never going to understand electricity after seeing the... (full context)

Fire usually only occurs in Ember when there’s an accident, so it’s rare. Doon knows that the trick will be to make fire last long enough to go into... (full context)

Doon hurries to Lina when he sees her. Lina asks him to come right away to... (full context)

Doon inspects the box, but Lina motions to the paper underneath. She tells him that she... (full context)

The next afternoon, Lina rushes to the Pipeworks and accepts a slicker and boots from Doon. Doon leads her down and Lina is dumbstruck by the sight of the river. He... (full context)

Lina and Doon leave the Pipeworks and sit on a bench. They reason that someone got there first,... (full context)

Three days after Lina and Doon’s excursion into the Pipeworks, they still haven’t heard word of an announcement. Lina doesn’t understand... (full context)

A week after Lina and Doon’s trip into the Pipeworks, Doon fixes a clog in Tunnel 207. He finishes quickly and... (full context)

...Everyone is nervous and many refuse to leave home. As she’s on her way home, Doon races up behind Lina and shares his discovery of Mayor Cole’s secret treasure room. Suddenly... (full context)

...this plan much after the way they treated her on her first day of work. Doon agrees and suggests that when the guards see what’s down in the Pipeworks, they’ll arrest... (full context)

As Doon stands to go find a guard, Lina catches hold of his sleeve and shares that... (full context)

As Lina heads home alone, she hopes that Doon isn’t right that the Instructions aren’t important, even though she knows she got a little... (full context)

After Clary leaves, Lina races across Ember to Doon’s apartment and tells him about Clary’s theory. They return to Lina’s apartment and puzzle over... (full context)

Doon struggles to sleep. The noise of him tossing and turning wakes Doon’s father, who asks... (full context)

...at the Singing. After a while, Lina moves to an alley and studies the Instructions. Doon finds her there, right after coming up from the Pipeworks, and shares that he found... (full context)

Lina and Doon don’t grab boots or slickers, reasoning that wherever they’re going won’t be spurting water like... (full context)

...There’s nothing inside but darkness, and no sign of a light switch. Cautiously, Lina and Doon step into the darkness, wondering if they have to walk out of Ember through a... (full context)

...suggests he tries writing on the white stuff in the lid of the box. When Doon does, the match bursts into flame and he throws it in surprise. Lina lights a... (full context)

...of the word “boat.” The next line says something about ropes and going down something. Doon realizes that the directions say to lower the boat with ropes and head downstream. The... (full context)

Doon is confused, as the boat is only big enough for two people. He grabs another... (full context)

Back aboveground, Lina and Doon realize it’s almost six p.m. They make a plan for the next day and then... (full context)

Doon pulls out the box with the worm inside to check it. A few days ago,... (full context)

Doon sees three burly guards approach old Nammy Proggs and ask for Doon. They say that... (full context)

...fight over the boats. She vows to hold on tight to Poppy, Mrs. Murdo, and Doon. The next morning, Lina gratefully eats the breakfast Mrs. Murdo cooks for her. When someone... (full context)

Doon says that there are signs up all over the city, asking people to report it... (full context)

...is the only light in the dark world, but she knows now that’s not true. Doon suggests that they could leave a note with someone they trust, take a boat, and... (full context)

...happen before everyone else can leave Ember, and she says that Poppy will need her. Doon insists that Mrs. Murdo is organized and will take care of Poppy. Lina knows this... (full context)

...Lina looks out over the city she loves. She only has five minutes to meet Doon, but sadness in her chest makes her pause. She isn’t sure she can leave Poppy... (full context)

...ends, there’s nothing but silence. Lina considers telling everyone then and there about her and Doon’s discovery, but before she can say anything, she hears the crowd erupt in panic. She... (full context)

At 3:20 p.m., Doon grabs his pack and heads for the Pipeworks. He’s worried about Lina, but knows he... (full context)

Doon blows out his candle and sits down to wait. The lights come back on and... (full context)

...they discover that the boxes of candles and matches fit in the back. Lina and Doon decide to leave the paddles in the bottom. They’re surprised to discover that the boat... (full context)

The boat streaks into the tunnel, plunging Lina, Doon, and Poppy into complete darkness. The river is rough, so Doon and Lina roll into... (full context)

On the other side of the huge room, the current picks up again. Lina and Doon place Poppy between them and huddle together. Lina can’t tell how long they travel, but... (full context)

Doon notices that Poppy has something. Startled by Lina’s shout, Poppy drops it. It’s a packet... (full context)

A few yards up the path, Doon discovers a framed sign on the wall. It welcomes Ember’s refugees and warns of a... (full context)

...hair that comes out of the ground, and they hear odd singing sounds. Lina and Doon agree that they’re not afraid. They walk until they reach tall, hard plants with leaves... (full context)

...to look at. Everything is green, and the sky is a clear blue. Lina and Doon cry at the warmth, the beauty, and the light. They point at singing, flying creatures... (full context)

The account ends there. Lina and Doon wonder if the woman left her book on purpose, or if someone made her leave... (full context)

When the circle is high in the sky, Lina and Doon sit down in the shade while Poppy naps. They can see a gray line in... (full context)

Poppy wakes up, so Lina feeds her the last peas. Lina and Doon discuss what the creature had and note that it looked like an oddly colored peach.... (full context)

The City of Ember

Doon Harrow Character Analysis

Doon Harrow Quotes in The City of Ember

Chapter 3 Quotes

Chapter 8 Quotes

Chapter 12 Quotes

Chapter 15 Quotes

Chapter 18 Quotes

Chapter 20 Quotes

Doon Harrow Character Timeline in The City of Ember