The Night Watchman

The Night Watchman

by

Louise Erdrich

Pogo Paranteau Character Analysis

Pogo Paranteau is Patrice’s father. He is often referred to simply as Paranteau. He is a person with alcoholism, and his outbursts at home cause chaos and fear. He is absent for most of the novel, though he sometimes returns home, asking his wife, Zhaanat, or Patrice for money. When he dies, Patrice and Pokey find his body in a cabin on their property, and the community then holds a funeral for him.
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Pogo Paranteau Character Timeline in The Night Watchman

The timeline below shows where the character Pogo Paranteau appears in The Night Watchman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Metal Blinds
Power, Solidarity, and Community Action Theme Icon
Sex, Violence, and Gender Theme Icon
...the group goes to dinner. When Thomas walks out of the restaurant, he sees Pogo Paranteau, Patrice’s father, who is drunk. At first, Thomas tries to get Pogo to let them... (full context)
The Night Watch
Power, Solidarity, and Community Action Theme Icon
Sex, Violence, and Gender Theme Icon
The next day, Thomas brings the grave house. Zhaanat and Pokey tie Paranteau into a blanket and cover him with bark. Families begin to arrive. LaBatte weeps. Bucky... (full context)
Two Months
Power, Solidarity, and Community Action Theme Icon
...the first week in March. Millie had never been to a funeral like that of Paranteau before. And as the proceedings took place in Chippewa, she realized that when she conducted... (full context)
You Can’t Assimilate Indian Ghosts
Agency and Exploitation Theme Icon
...assimilated. He wouldn’t go to a white heaven or a white hell. He’d gone to Paranteau’s funeral, thinking he might be able to follow him to the afterlife. It’s hard to... (full context)