Pani NalaGan/Pearl Norton Character Analysis in Julie of the Wolves

Pani NalaGan is a girl Miyax meets after she moves to Barrow to marry Daniel. Pani NalaGan is Inuit, but she, like Miyax, goes by her English name (Pearl Norton) in town and at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school. Pearl and Miyax quickly become friends. Pearl is sympathetic to Miyax’s marriage situation and encourages her not to take it too seriously, promising that she can simply leave if she ends up not liking Daniel. Pearl’s advice gives Miyax a glimmer of hope and contributes to her decision to run away after Daniel assaults her. Miyax and Pearl exchange a tearful goodbye before Miyax flees Barrow to board a ship for the mainland U.S., and Pearl supplies Miyax with food and supplies to aid in her journey. Other than the animals she encounters in the wild, Pearl is Miyax’s only true friend.

Pani NalaGan/Pearl Norton Character Timeline in Julie of the Wolves

The timeline below shows where the character Pani NalaGan/Pearl Norton appears in Julie of the Wolves. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...girl behind her. The girl introduces herself as Pani NalaGan, though her English name is Pearl Norton. Pearl leads Julie into an alley, past an old house, and into the giant... (full context)

Pearl buys a Coke to share with Julie. She tells Julie not to worry about her... (full context)

...and sewing with Nusan. She looks forward to her free hours when she can meet Pearl at the quonset. Months go by, and Julie continues to correspond with Amy. The more... (full context)

...night, Naka won’t stop beating Nusan, so Julie runs to the quonset to look for Pearl. Pearl isn’t there, but Julie sees Russel, the young man who campaigns around town to... (full context)

Julie packs her things. She sneaks out at midnight, stopping by Pearl’s house to say goodbye. Pearl intuits what happened and asks Julie where she plans to... (full context)