The Night Watchman Character Analysis

Thomas Wazhashk

Along with his niece Patrice, Thomas is one of the protagonists of the novel. He is the chairman of the Turtle Mountain Advisory Committee and the titular night watchman. He is based on Louise… read analysis of Thomas Wazhashk

Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau

Patrice is one of the novel’s protagonists. Her mother, Zhaanat, is Thomas’s cousin, and Patrice thinks of herself as Thomas’s niece. In part because of the precarity of her home life—economically, emotionally, and physically because… read analysis of Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau

Arthur V. Watkins

Senator Arthur V. Watkins is the novel’s antagonist. A devout Mormon as well as a politician, he introduces the Termination Bill to Congress, threatening the continued survival of the people of the Turtle Mountain Band… read analysis of Arthur V. Watkins

Vera Paranteau

Vera is Patrice’s sister who went missing sometime before the novel’s present. She initially traveled to Minneapolis with a man who said that he wanted to marry her, but she hasn’t been seen since… read analysis of Vera Paranteau

Wood Mountain

Wood Mountain is a boxer who trains with Lloyd Barnes. Throughout the novel, he has feelings for Patrice, which puts him in conflict with Barnes, who also has feelings for her. After one… read analysis of Wood Mountain

Lloyd Barnes

Lloyd Barnes is a math teacher and boxing coach who trains Wood Mountain and Patrice’s brother, Pokey, among others. In his mind, Barnes attaches numbers to people. He sees Patrice, with whom he’s… read analysis of Lloyd Barnes

Zhaanat

Zhaanat is Patrice’s mother. She makes baskets and beadwork, but she is a holder of traditional Chippewa knowledge and wisdom, and her real work is to pass on that knowledge to others who come… read analysis of Zhaanat

Jack Malloy

Jack Malloy is the owner of Log Jam 26, a bar in Minneapolis where Patrice ends up performing as the waterjack. He ostensibly tries to help Patrice when she first arrives in Minneapolis—he gives her… read analysis of Jack Malloy

Millie Cloud

Millie Cloud is Louis Pipestone’s daughter and a graduate student who returns to the reservation at Thomas’s invitation. Her white mother raised her away from the Turtle Mountain Reservation, but, as a student… read analysis of Millie Cloud

Valentine Blue

Valentine works with Patrice at the jewel bearing plant. She is described as one of Patrice’s closest friends, but throughout the novel, tensions flare up in their relationship. When Patrice is looking for a way… read analysis of Valentine Blue

Doris Lauder

Doris is a “white girl” who is new to working at the jewel bearing plant. She gives Patrice and Valentine rides to work each day and also gives Patrice a ride to the train station… read analysis of Doris Lauder

Betty Pye

Betty Pye works with Patrice at the jewel bearing plant. She prompts Patrice’s trip to Minneapolis to hunt for Vera when she tells Patrice that her cousin had recently seen Vera in the city. When… read analysis of Betty Pye

Pokey Paranteau

Pokey is Patrice’s younger brother. He practices boxing with Lloyd Barnes, who often drives him home, hoping for a chance to talk to Patrice. Because both he and Wood Mountain are boxers, they… read analysis of Pokey Paranteau

Bucky Duvalle

Bucky Duvalle and his friends sexually assaulted and attempted to rape Patrice in a car the summer before the events of the novel take place. It could have been even worse, Patrice thinks, but she… read analysis of Bucky Duvalle

Walter Vold

Walter Vold is the overseer and supervisor at the jewel bearing plant. He is described as “lurkishly” watching the women work, and he doesn’t allow people to speak while they are working (though they do… read analysis of Walter Vold

Pogo Paranteau

Pogo Paranteau is Patrice’s father. He is often referred to simply as Paranteau. He is a person with alcoholism, and his outbursts at home cause chaos and fear. He is absent for most of… read analysis of Pogo Paranteau

LaBatte

LaBatte is the night janitor at the jewel bearing plant. He and Thomas often talk with each other, especially about the ghost of their former classmate, Roderick, who often visits them in the plant… read analysis of LaBatte

Gerald

Gerald is Zhaanat’s cousin. He is a jiisikid, which means that he can fly to faraway places, inhabited by other spirits. When Vera is missing, he comes to help the Paranteaus find her. After… read analysis of Gerald

Joe “Wobble” Wobleszynski

Joe Wobble, as he’s better known, is Wood Mountain’s main boxing rival. Years ago, Joe Wobble’s family encroached on land that Wood Mountain’s grandmother owned. During their first fight, Wood Mountain has the opportunity… read analysis of Joe “Wobble” Wobleszynski

Bernadette Blue

Bernadette is Wood Mountain’s half-sister. She lives in Minneapolis, and she reluctantly takes care of Vera’s baby after Vera disappears. Bernadette tells Patrice that she doesn’t know where Vera is, but she tells Wood Mountain… read analysis of Bernadette Blue

Roderick

Roderick is a former boarding school classmate of Thomas and LaBatte who appears in the form of a ghost to both men throughout the novel. He died of tuberculosis, which he contracted after he was… read analysis of Roderick

Vernon

Vernon is one of the Mormon missionaries on the Turtle Mountain Reservation. He is infatuated with Grace, and his partner, Elnath, suspects that Vernon and Grace are getting up to “the worst kind… read analysis of Vernon

Elnath

Elnath is one of the Mormon missionaries on the Turtle Mountain Reservation. He considers turning his missionary partner, Vernon, in for violating the rules of the church because he suspects that Vernon is having… read analysis of Elnath

Minor Characters

Moses Montrose

Moses is the tribal judge. He is the first person to bring the seriousness of the Termination Bill to Thomas’s attention. He is a member of the tribal advisory committee and also a member of the delegation that travels to Washington, D.C. to testify against the Termination Bill.

Juggie Blue

Juggie is Wood Mountain’s mother. She is also the caretaker and cook for the teachers’ quarters at the school. She helps in the effort to raise awareness about the Termination Bill and is also part of the delegation that travels to Washington, D.C. to testify against it.

Louis Pipestone

Louis is Millie Cloud’s father. He raises and trains racehorses. Louis is in charge of circulating the petition against the Termination Bill and getting as many people to sign as possible.

Biboon

Biboon is Thomas’s father, who Thomas often seeks out for advice. Biboon also tells Thomas the story of his name, Wazhashk, which is the story of the muskrat.

Gwiizikens (Vera’s Baby)

Gwiizikens is Vera’s baby. Patrice uses the name Gwiizikens, meaning Little Boy, to avoid attracting the attention of evil spirits. Wood Mountain, who helps Patrice care for Gwiizikens until Vera returns home and also builds a cradle board for him, “temporarily” names the baby after his father, Archille.

Grace

Grace is Louis Pipestone’s daughter. She helps train the racehorses, and she is infatuated with Wood Mountain, who also helps train the horses.

Martin Cross

Martin Cross is Thomas’s friend and is a tribal chairman of Fort Berthold. A lot of the information that Thomas hears about Arthur Watkins comes from Martin Cross, who is also engaged in opposing the Termination Bill.

Rose

Rose is Thomas’s wife, and the mother of Wade, Sharlo, and Fee.

Wade

Wade is Thomas and Rose’s son. He is also an aspiring boxer.

Sharlo

Sharlo is Thomas and Rose’s daughter. She is a high school senior and is crowned homecoming queen near the end of the novel.

Fee

Fee is also Thomas and Rose’s daughter and is eleven years old.

Noko

Noko is Rose’s mother. She lives with Thomas and Rose and their family and seems to be experiencing some form of dementia.

Harry Roy

A man who found Vera sleeping by the side of the road and took care of her.