Jan 1, 2010

Tracks | Characters

The most important character in Tracks is Fleur Pillager, a strong and beautiful woman, who seems to be a shaper of the forces of the land, particularly those of a lake near her home. Unlike Erdrich's previous novels in which nearly all the significant characters have a narrative voice, Fleur is seen only through two other characters: Nanapush, a wise, fun-loving tribal leader, and Pauline Puyat, a tormented mixed breed who envies Fleur's beauty and power. Nanapush's view of Fleur is friendly and caring; Pauline is fearful and shows a desire to humiliate a rival. Both views...