Banner In The Sky

Captain John Winter is an important character in Rudi’s journey. He is a famous English climber in his 30s who is “very tall and thin” (31) with a “hawklike nose and a strong jutting chin” (31). His face is tanned like Rudi wishes his could be. While Winter is the “foremost mountaineer of the breadth of the Alps” (32) and has made many famous ascents, he is not bulky or domineering like Saxo. He speaks softly and carries authority and calm with him.

Winter’s peace under pressure makes a strong impression on Rudi. When he is stuck in the crevasse, he calmly navigates the situation, and Rudi thinks that he is “a real man. A brave man” (27). Winter’s character demonstrates that masculinity doesn’t need to be domineering but can build up others. Winter is the first person to believe in Rudi and defend his desire to climb. When Franz and Saxo argue with Rudi for bringing his staff, Winter points out that he used it to save his life (187). The other men argue about which town is better than the other, but Winter manages to bring them together to a victorious climb. He is a true leader, insisting on risking himself before others. So much of Winter’s energy is devoted to leading the group that it exhausts him during the climb. While the captain is physically injured, Rudi thinks that his “expenditure of will and spirit that had made the climb possible” (228) drained him. Despite his weakness, Winter is inspired to help find Rudi, which drives him to the top of the mountain. Winter is a static character.

Old Teo is the cook who works at the hotel where Rudi is a dishwasher. He is introduced as an old man with a limp but was once a great mountaineer who climbed the Citadel with Josef Matt and Sir Edward Stephenson on the day of their accident. Despite his past, Teo still sees the beauty in mountain climbing and encourages Rudi, covering for him when he leaves. Instead of feeling burdened with extra work, “in his old heart he was glad” (12).

Teo is an essential part of Rudi’s development. While Winter is preparing and Franz is off on his own climbs, Teo takes time off work to train Rudi in climbing. He risks his own safety “without a murmur” (87). Had Rudi not practiced and trained with Teo, he might not have made it up the Citadel safely.

Teo not only believes in Rudi’s skill but also stands up for his need to be his own person. He scolds Franz for trying to “make him into something he is not” (175) and toasts Rudi’s courage. He reminds Rudi of the importance of patience and learning from others, even in the pursuit of his dreams. Old Teo is a static character who is loyal to Rudi’s development.

Franz Lerner is Rudi’s uncle, a famous Alpine guide. While Franz spends time in the mountains, he doesn’t dare trying to summit the Citadel, claiming that God is saving it for himself. Winter sees that while he is “full of old taboos and traditions” (135), Franz wants to conquer the Citadel in his heart. Not until he hears Saxo mock the people of Kurtal does Franz declare that he is going to climb the mountain.

Franz has an intense sense of duty and honor. When Rudi gets stuck on the Wunderhorn, Franz insists on getting him since he is “my responsibility” (169). He insists on staying with Winter when he is injured, telling Saxo that he does not “deserve to be called a guide” (232) if he climbs alone. Franz cares for Rudi like a father—he won’t leave the mountain without him. Franz is a dynamic character who slowly softens throughout the novel. While he initially tries to keep Rudi from climbing, he slowly allows him more freedom. He also humbles himself, allowing Saxo to take the lead, something Rudi “had never before seen” (207). While the journey up the Citadel is primarily about Rudi’s development, Franz also develops.

Rudi’s mother, Ilse Matt, was widowed as a young woman. Although her “widowhood had faded her” (43), Ilse was one of the “beauties of Kurtal” and is still attractive. She has the same “fine features and light complexion as her son” (43). Ilse is a minor character but still changes during the novel. At the beginning of the story, she is frantic at the idea of Rudi climbing, hoping to protect him from her husband’s fate. Toward the end, she realizes that she was trying to make Rudi someone he isn’t. At the end of the novel, they share a special moment together. While they don’t speak, they reach a mutual understanding, and she respects Rudi and the courage he inherited from her husband.