The Night Watchman

The Night Watchman

by

Louise Erdrich

The Night Watchman: The Bear Skull in the Tree Was Painted Red and Faced East Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Wood Mountain visits the baby day after day. And he starts to notice things about Vera: a ragged earlobe, a crooked finger, a missing tooth. They both watch the baby with a similar kind of joy. One day, Patrice comes home and recognizes it. Her feelings of confusion and desire and possible love for Wood Mountain go away. Wood Mountain asks to talk to Patrice. Patrice says she knows what’s going on. And that she’s not mad. She would welcome “anyone and anything that could help put together Vera’s demolished heart.”
When Patrice sees Wood Mountain around Vera—and sees how he cares for her, for the baby, and how that care might help Vera heal—her confusion fades, as she knows that the most important thing to her, more important than anything she might want for herself, and more important than her confusion about her desires, is for Vera to find a way to heal.
Themes
Power, Solidarity, and Community Action Theme Icon
Sex, Violence, and Gender Theme Icon