The Buried Giant

by

Kazuo Ishiguro

Father Ninian Character Analysis

Father Ninian is one of the monks at the monastery Beatrice, Axl, Wistan, and Edwin stop at on their journey. Father Ninian has taken a vow of silence, but he is very close with Father Jonus, who is bedridden and relies on Ninian to keep an eye on what is going on in the monastery. Father Ninian finds ways to help Axl and Beatrice, namely by bringing them to see Father Jonus because Father Brian will not. Ninian also helps make medicine for Beatrice, who suffers from a mysterious pain and has asked Jonus to help cure her.
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Father Ninian Character Timeline in The Buried Giant

The timeline below shows where the character Father Ninian appears in The Buried Giant. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
...bed suffering from numerous injuries, who introduces himself as Jonus, and the silent monk as Ninian. Beatrice asks him how he got his injuries, but he changes the subject. (full context)
Chapter 7
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
...He says the monks deceived them and sent them into the tunnels to die, but Ninian got word to Gawain about the plan and brought him to the tunnels earlier. (full context)
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
Love and Hatred Theme Icon
Denial and Rewriting History Theme Icon
...he, as a knight of Arthur, can keep them safe from the monster and that Ninian told him the tunnel had an exit. (full context)
Memory, Truth and Justice Theme Icon
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
Love and Hatred Theme Icon
Denial and Rewriting History Theme Icon
...found out what was in store for Axl, Beatrice, Wistan, and Edwin, he had asked Ninian to put him in the tunnel to protect them. (full context)
Chapter 8
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
Love and Hatred Theme Icon
...of a battle: corpses, a blackened stone tower, and what look like pools of blood. Ninian appears behind him and Edwin asks if Wistan is lying in the courtyard. Ninian shakes... (full context)
War, Peace, Vengeance, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
Love and Hatred Theme Icon
...soldiers were brought out of the tower. Suddenly, the tower caught fire and killed many. Ninian found Wistan wandering the corridors and Jonus had secretly treated him before sending him to... (full context)