Clemence Character Analysis in The Round House

Clemence is Joe’s aunt. A devout Catholic, Clemence has two adult children of her own with her husband Edward. Clemence and Edward live down the road from Bazil and Geraldine. After Geraldine’s rape, Clemence helps the family by cooking their food and taking care of Joe when needed. Clemence also cares for Mooshum, her elderly father and Joe’s grandfather.

Clemence Character Timeline in The Round House

The timeline below shows where the character Clemence appears in The Round House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Parenthood, Foster Families, and Coming of Age Theme Icon

...reader that his father is a judge. Joe walks with his father to his aunt Clemence and Edward’s house. Joe’s grandfather Mooshum, who is very elderly, also lives with them. Joe... (full context)

Women, Bigotry, and Sexual Violence Theme Icon

...Geraldine is safe, Joe and Bazil relax. Bazil and Joe then take their time returning Clemence’s car. (full context)

Bazil tells Joe to tell Clemence that he is taking Geraldine to the emergency room. He lays Geraldine in the backseat.... (full context)

...“still,” and Joe gets angry. He uses the phone in the nurse’s office to call Clemence, but no one picks up. Joe sits back down in the waiting room as far... (full context)

Later, the pregnant woman leaves the waiting room, so Joe goes back inside and calls Clemence, who, upon talking with Joe, leaves for the hospital immediately. A nurse brings Joe to... (full context)

...Joe leave and gives Bazil a harsh look, so Bazil tells Joe to see if Clemence has arrived yet. Joe objects, but Bazil makes him leave. From the waiting room, Joe... (full context)

Storytelling, Formality, and Writing Theme Icon

...first told Bazil the extent of Geraldine’s injuries. After Joe hugs his father for awhile, Clemence arrives, separates Joe from Bazil, and leads him into the waiting room. Clemence tells Joe... (full context)

Joe asks Clemence if his mother was raped, and she says yes. Joe then asks if Geraldine will... (full context)

One night, Bazil decides to cook dinner. Joe goes to get a pie from Clemence for dessert. At Clemence’s house, Whitey, Mooshum, and Clemence are sitting around drinking iced tea.... (full context)

...picture of Sonja that Joe keeps in his closet for when he wants to masturbate. Clemence takes the pies out of the oven and then goes outside to smoke. Joe is... (full context)

...is very welcome at mass. Joe grunts in response and Father Travis recognizes Joe as Clemence’s nephew. Joe, feeling bold, asks Father Travis where he was on the afternoon of May... (full context)

Chippewa Tradition vs. Catholicism Theme Icon

One morning, Joe rides to Edward and Clemence’s house. When Joe arrives, he finds Mooshum outside, tangled in netting for the garden. Joe... (full context)

When Clemence comes back from mass, Joe bikes to the lake to look for cranes. Joe spots... (full context)

...the house early for the gas station. Sonja tells Joe that he should stay with Clemence that night. Joe tells her he is quitting his gas station job. He feels that... (full context)

When Joe arrives at Clemence’s, he tells Clemence that he quit his job at the station. Clemence realizes that Sonja... (full context)

More people join them outside. Clemence and Edward take pictures as Joe’s cousins Joseph and Evey carry the cake to Mooshum.... (full context)

Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon

...Bazil and Geraldine go to Bismarck to work on the case, so Joe stays with Clemence and Edward. (full context)

After Joe has been at Clemence and Edward’s house for a few days, his aunt and uncle take a trip to... (full context)

Later, at Clemence’s house, Joe asks what Cappy was thinking when he told Father Travis about having sex... (full context)

When Mooshum finishes his story, he changes the subject to Sonja. Clemence tells Joe that Sonja left Whitey yesterday while he was at the gas station, with... (full context)

...people on the reservation have experience with Catholicism because of boarding school, and many, like Clemence, are actively devout. On Saturday, Joe sits with Bugger Pourier, an alcoholic and drifter, the... (full context)