Madison Liechty
AP English 3
Pohl Period 6
23 July 2014
Characterization of Fools Crow When writing, authors use different techniques to give the characters specific qualities. One method an author can use is characterization, which is the information the author gives to the reader about the characters such as physical appearance, feelings or dreams the character has, and what others say or how they react to the character. In the novel Fools Crow, James Welch uses characterization to enhance the personality of White Man’s Dog, and the story follows this eighteen year-old boy through his life as a Blackfoot Indian living in western Montana. Welch creates different situations for White Man’s Dog to show how he develops throughout the story. The story opens and White Man’s Dog is described as an unlucky and unsuccessful boy with nothing to show for his eighteen years. He is not only unsuccessful when it comes to hunting, but he has also never touched a woman’s body, creating the opportunity for his friends make fun of him and call him dog-lover (Welch 4). Even though White Man’s Dog is unsuccessful and overshadowed by his younger brother and his friends, an old war leader, Yellow Kidney, sees potential in White Man’s Dog. As the omniscient narrator looks into Yellow Kindey’s thoughts, White Man’s Dog stands out because although he is inexperienced in the manner of war, he already possesses qualities that are scarce among other men his age (Welch 20). After returning from Yellow Kidney’s horse taking party successfully, White Man’s Dog becomes attracted to a young girl among the Lone Eaters named Red Paint. Red Paint is Yellow Kidney’s only daughter and she is known for her kindness and beauty. After expressing his feeling for her and they are married, White Man’s Dog is looked upon as a man because he now has a wife, a lodge and horses of his own (Welch 106). Along with getting married, White Man’s Dog takes an interest in medicine after he meets Mik-api, an elderly medicine man that has no family left to support him. Mik-api takes White Man’s Dog and teaches him the ways of his own medicine and its power. White Man’s Dog is faithful to Mik-api and always does as instructed, not because he expects to gain Mik-api’s wealth, but because he knows it’s the right thing to do (Welch 51). The final step White Man’s Dog takes to becoming a man is killing the Crow chief, Bull Shield. On a second and final raid on the Crows, White Man’s Dog acts bravely while killing the mighty chief. When White Man’s Dog arrives back to his tribe, the Lone Eaters, the people hear his story of how he killed and scalped Bull Shield and rejoice, later renaming him ‘Fools Crow’ (Welch 151). On his final journey, Fools Crow is visited by Nitsokan (dream-maker) during his sleep and is chosen to make a journey to far away land, without food or water, not knowing where he is going, only with the knowledge that this trip could change his fate and help his people. Fools Crow is led by a wolverine to Feather Woman, Morning Star’s wife. She resides in a land that is not on earth, nor in the sky. She paints on a yellow canvas that shows Fools Crow his future and the future of his people. On the canvas, he sees the fall of his people and what outcasts their children will become. When questioned by Feather Woman, Fools Crow simply says that he is not angry at the canvas and the knowledge he has now, and will not be angry when disease spreads and starvation occurs. Fools Crow knows the only way to help his people now is to urge them to make peace with themselves and their situation, because they are meant to die (Welch 359). Fools Crow develops tremendously throughout the novel because of his experience gained by the events he faced. Yellow Kidney’s raid gave him horses and the means to become a man. Fools Crow’s marriage gave him certain independence from his family. Mik-api gave Fools Crow his knowledge of the spiritual world and all of its power, while also teaching Fools Crow obedience, determination and attentiveness. The burden in knowing his peoples’ future, yet having no control over it made him a strong leader. Welch created White Man’s Dog and Fools Crow, when put side by side they appear to be different characters but in truth they are the same man, appearing different because of their actions and accomplishments. Through the use of characterization Welch is able to create two different characters within the protagonist that both have different traits, values and beliefs that are expressed throughout the story.