41 pages • 1 hour read
Joseph BoydenThrough Black Spruce
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Annie Bird
The oldest daughter of Lisette, Annie is one of the story’s main narrators. She is a Cree Indian from Moosonee, a small town in Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a more modern town but was taught the old ways of Indian life by her grandfather, a member of the Anishnabe tribe, and her uncle Will. She is a skilled hunter and trapper, and spending time in the bush is one of her favorite things to do. Annie is a strong-willed daughter who knows how to take care of herself, but she also enjoys the comfort and protection of her family and friends. She has always compared herself to her sister, being jealous of Suzanne’s beauty and the men she attracted. Though Annie struggles to find her own identity and voice, she succeeds before the novel ends.
Will Bird
Will Bird is in a coma for most of the story, narrating stories to his nieces, Annie and Suzanne. This alcoholic uncle is strongly loyal to his family and friends, and that loyalty is a key theme in the book. Alcohol does cripple him at times, but he explains the ways he tries to stay above his addiction. His wife and two sons were killed in a house fire, and he stays single until he starts to date Dorothy. When Marius Netmaker, a drug dealer, thinks that he is snitching on him and his biker gang, he torments Will psychologically and physically. This stalking and violence leaves Will on edge, paranoid and suffering from PTSD. Will retreats to the bush to find internal and external peace. He eventually recovers from his coma.
Marius Netmaker
Marius is the book’s antagonist. Him and his family are drug smugglers in Moosonee and hold a grudge against the Bird family when Suzanne runs away with his brother, Gus. Marius had a crush on Annie when they were younger, but Annie humiliated him when he tried to bring her flowers. Marius stalks Will because he thinks that he is informing the police information about their drug business. Marius and his gang beat Will up on multiple occasions. Will shoots him in the head, but he ends up surviving. Marius eventually attempts to kill Will and his friends, but Antoine kills him first. Moosonee is not upset that Marius is dead; he was a nuisance to town life and caused a lot of trouble.
Gordon
Unable to speak since birth, Gordon writes messages to communicate with others. His silence is a theme throughout the novel, which draws connections between language and identity. Also known by his Indian name, “Painted Tongue,” he follows Annie in her quest according to the Old Man’s wishes. Gordon is a loyal, protective, and loving partner to Annie. He saves her when she is attacked in the streets of Toronto and again when Danny attempts to strangle her. He gets along well with everyone, is a great natural listener, and is a good judge of character.
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By Joseph Boyden
