Sergeant McCaan Character Analysis in Three Day Road

An officer in the Canadian Army during World War I, and part of Elijah and Xavier’s unit. Like Corporal Thompson, Sergeant McCaan is kind to Elijah and Xavier, and he excuses Elijah’s boastful and reckless behavior because he thinks Elijah is a good sniper. McCaan gives Xavier the nickname, X—“X marks the spot on any target [Xavier] wishes to hit”—and he serves as a buffer between Xavier and Elijah and the racist Lieutenant Breech. McCaan dies near the end of the war when he is shot at pointblank range by a German soldier right in front of Xavier.

Sergeant McCaan Quotes in Three Day Road

The Three Day Road quotes below are all either spoken by Sergeant McCaan or refer to Sergeant McCaan. 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:

McCaan whispers out to all of us to regain our wits, that this is our first true test as soldiers and that for all we know we may be in enemy territory and that from this moment on our lives hang in the balance. "You are acting like rabbits," he says. "It is time to act like wolves,” and these are the perfect words. I can almost hear the backs of the men around me stiffen and the hairs on their necks bristle and it is exactly this, to be the hunter and not the hunted, that will keep me alive. This law is the same law as in the bush. Turn fear and panic into the sharp blade of survival.

Related Characters: Xavier Bird (speaker), Sergeant McCaan

Page Number and Citation: 18

Explanation and Analysis:

Sergeant McCaan Character Timeline in Three Day Road

The timeline below shows where the character Sergeant McCaan appears in Three Day Road. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...by the next day. Rifle fire erupts nearby. “Are those our fucking signal flares?” Sergeant McCaan yells. “Can somebody tell me? Are they?” (full context)

...morning, Xavier stands at attention next to Elijah. Elijah fidgets and shuffles his feet and McCaan yells at him to stand still. Xavier can tell that McCaan doesn’t want to yell,... (full context)

Once the shelling stops and the dead and wounded are carted off by stretcher, McCaan again orders the platoon to march. Breech will be waiting outside of town with another... (full context)

“You are acting like rabbits,” McCaan yells. “It is time to act like wolves.” Xavier thinks McCaan’s words are “perfect.” This... (full context)

Xavier’s unit reaches the front trench where men look through periscopes at the other side. McCaan goes to look for an officer, and Xavier, Elijah, and the others are left with... (full context)

McCaan goes to a periscope and looks across “no man’s land” in the growing darkness. He... (full context)

...and Xavier in their hole. “Let’s go,” he says, leading them into a trench where McCaan and Graves wait. (full context)

...of Canadian uniforms in a nearby crater. The men are injured, and Sean Patrick and McCaan help the men get back to the trenches. Suddenly, the gunfire and bombing intensify. “They’ve... (full context)

...best shooters from each company to step forward so they can determine the best shot. McCaan selects Elijah and Xavier, and they step forward with several other men. They are placed... (full context)

“Your new name is simply X,” McCaan says to Xavier, smiling, “and when men ask you why, you tell them, X marks... (full context)

Back on the line, McCaan gives Xavier and Elijah permission to spend extra time scoping out “no man’s land.” They... (full context)

McCaan orders Elijah to take Thompson with him and Xavier when they go “to frisk” the... (full context)

...short. “Just a little bit?” Elijah asks. “If I didn’t know better, I’d report to McCaan that you’re displaying symptoms,” Driscoll says. “But I know better, don’t I, Private?” “Yes, Corporal,”... (full context)

The rain continues, but McCaan says they will still go on the raid. Elijah’s “stomach is sick,” and he feels... (full context)

...a charge and drops it in the nest and pulls Elijah back to the trenches. McCaan meets them with Driscoll. “Just a few scrapes, possibly a broken arm,” Driscoll says as... (full context)

In the trenches, McCaan approaches Elijah. He says Thompson won’t be back for a while, and in the meantime,... (full context)

By the time Elijah returns with Breech and McCaan, Xavier is smeared with blood and the horses are dead. “My God!” Breech yells. “I’ll... (full context)

In early April, McCaan tells Xavier and Elijah about an upcoming “offensive.” He talks fast and Xavier doesn’t understand.... (full context)

...They spot a good place, close to the Germans as ordered, and wait until morning. McCaan said there will be “intense” shellfire as the men storm “no man’s land” and to... (full context)

...“He is no monster, just a man,” Xavier thinks as he runs out of air. McCaan appears and places his revolver to the man’s temple. He pulls the trigger and “calmly”... (full context)

McCaan and Breech come into the trench to address the soldiers. “An important announcement, gentlemen,” McCaan... (full context)

...he says. “Just speak in Cree and I will translate.” Elijah and Xavier report to McCaan’s dugout where he waits with Breech. “Private Bird’s English is very poor, sir,” Elijah says.... (full context)

...ever since. Xavier had simply wanted to help feed the men and forgot to tell McCaan, he says. Xavier has not seen the medic about his head because he fears “the... (full context)

...morning “stand-to,” Elijah removes his sock, revealing a blackened foot. “Loot at that foot, Whiskeyjack!” McCaan yells and orders him to Driscoll. The medic gives Elijah whale oil to rub on... (full context)

The town is “blasted.” The soldiers keep advancing, including McCaan, Graves, Grey Eyes, and Thompson, who has just returned from the hospital. Breech orders Thompson... (full context)

...raid begin to circulate, and soon Xavier and Elijah are ordered “over the top” with McCaan and Thompson. They make it across “no man’s land” and through the German’s wire fence... (full context)

“Sergeant McCaan!” Xavier yells as he sees movement on his left. Two Germans approach McCaan, who is... (full context)

...says. “Me dead?” Elijah says. “Never.” A new officer, Colquhoun, has been sent to take McCaan’s place, and he is not so fond of Elijah. “You were absent without leave for... (full context)

Sergeant McCaan Character Analysis

Sergeant McCaan Quotes in Three Day Road

Takoshininaaniwan: Arrival Quotes

Sergeant McCaan Character Timeline in Three Day Road