Fleur Pillager, an enigmatic figure in American literature, embodies the "shape-shifter" archetype, representing resilience amidst severe personal, familial, and cultural challenges. These challenges stem from racial prejudice and ethnic conquest. Her character is deeply intertwined with the legends surrounding her, her striking physical appearance, and her mysterious prowess in card games. She is described as having "wide and flat" cheeks, a robust upper body, "fishlike, slippery, narrow" hips, and "sly brown eyes." Her green dress, which resembles "lakeweed" on an August night, adds to her mystique. Men often overlook her very white, "strong and curved" teeth and the absence of her fifth toes, leading them to underestimate her.

Fleur's aura of power stems from her bear clan heritage, allegedly granting her abilities such as metamorphosing into a bear, eliminating men who wrong her, and summoning a tornado to ravage the town of Argus. The narrator notes that Fleur "messed with evil, laughed at the old women's advice, and dressed like a man." Pauline, the narrator, reinforces this image by claiming Fleur meddles with ancient Chippewa medicine and incantations, and hints that Fleur's magic compelled her to lock the men who raped Fleur in the meat locker.

While Fleur's exact motives for moving to Argus remain unclear, possibilities include a desire for change or fleeing from threats on the reservation. Despite this ambiguity, Fleur is depicted as a hardworking individual who uses her strength and possibly supernatural abilities to outsmart men in card games. Her confidence and boldness provoke the ire of men like Lily Veddar. Although some aspects of Fleur's story might be exaggerated by Pauline, Fleur remains a figure of significant feminine magical power that defies complete understanding.

Pauline, the narrator of the story, offers a complex perspective filled with contradictions and unreliable narratives. As Dutch’s stepdaughter, her character embodies invisibility and observation, acting as "the watcher on the dark sill," blending into the background. Her physical description as a "skinny, big-nosed girl with staring eyes" contrasts sharply with Fleur's allure, feeding her mixed feelings of admiration, fear, and disdain towards Fleur.

Pauline's account reveals her role as an agent of retribution, instrumental in enacting vengeance against the men who wronged Fleur, including her stepfather, Dutch James. Despite her self-declared minimal impact, she ultimately locks the men in the meat locker, leading to their demise. Pauline's motivations are ambiguous; she suggests being compelled by Fleur's magic to act, leaving readers to question her reliability. Despite this moral ambiguity, Pauline maintains a tenuous connection with Fleur, marked by both attraction and repulsion.

Her characterization of herself as "melting back to nothing" speaks to her timidity and insecurity, traits that prevent her from intervening during Fleur’s assault. This incident potentially fuels her later actions during the storm, where she locks the men in the meat locker. The duality in Pauline's relationship with Fleur is further complicated by her simultaneous jealousy of Fleur's captivating presence and powers and a sense of regret for her own inaction.

Lily Veddar, a key player in the narrative's central conflict, is characterized by his "snake's cold pale eyes" and "lily-white" skin, which earns him his name. Working at Kozka’s Meats, Lily indulges in card games while his "stumpy mean little bull" dog occupies his lap. He is the primary instigator of the events leading to Fleur's assault, actively provoking her by escalating the stakes in their card game. During a subsequent chase, Lily's fall into the sow's pen and subsequent struggle depict him as pig-like, both literally and figuratively.

Pauline's stepfather, Dutch James, also works at Kozka’s Meats and meets his end alongside...

Tor Grunewald, a "short and scrappy" man at Kozka’s Meats, partakes in the card games with Fleur and suffers the same fate as Lily and Dutch in the meat locker. His wife, although not present in the story, is mentioned to have been struck in the head during the storm, adding a layer of tragedy to his character.

Fritzie, Pete’s wife, is described as a "string-thin blonde" who chain-smokes while expertly wielding razor-sharp knives. Despite being business-savvy, she depends on Fleur for heavy lifting. Fritzie vigilantly oversees her husband, ensuring no back-room gossip. Her pragmatic nature is evident when she refuses to damage the meat locker to check on the trapped men, prioritizing their primary investment over potential discoveries.

Pete Kozka, the owner of the butcher shop, is a soft-spoken man who keeps his thoughts to himself, influenced by his wife, Fritzie. A practical businessman, Pete is notable for his unique talisman, a cow's eye lens he carries for luck. His decision to hire Fleur due to her strength, coupled with his lack of malice towards her, earns him and Fritzie the sparing of their home during the storm, as implied by Pauline.

George Many Women, another character entangled in Fleur’s mystique, is cursed by her after peering at her washed-up form on Lake Turcot's shore. Despite his cautionary avoidance, Fleur’s magic seems to seal his fate, leading to his drowning in a bathtub.

Misshepeshu, the "waterman" of Lake Turcot, is a mystical and "love-hungry" devil, pursuing young girls like Fleur. Chippewa mothers caution their daughters about his deceptive appearance, which shifts from charming to monstrous. His transformation from a handsome figure to a creature with "horns, fangs, claws, fins" mirrors the themes of seduction and danger interwoven in Fleur’s story. Misshepeshu’s association with Fleur’s sexuality and power is subtly suggested in Erdrich’s narrative.

Jean Hat is noted for his act of bravery, saving Fleur from drowning in Lake Turcot, but ultimately succumbing to a cart accident, highlighting the story's theme of sacrifice and tragedy.