The Round House

by

Louise Erdrich

Doe Lafournais Character Analysis

Doe is Cappy and Randall's father. Doe works as the janitor at the tribal offices, he intermittently serves as the tribal chairman, and he MCs for the annual summer powwow. Doe's house is frequently the meeting point for Joe, Zack, Angus and Cappy's adventures, while Doe's on-again-off-again role as tribal chairman lightly parodies reservation politics.
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Doe Lafournais Character Timeline in The Round House

The timeline below shows where the character Doe Lafournais appears in The Round House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter Two: Lonely Among Us
Parenthood, Foster Families, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
...Angus, and Zack) are inseparable. Cappy lives with his older brother, Randall, and his father, Doe, who works as a janitor and as the on-and-off tribe chairman. Zack’s family is composed... (full context)
Women, Bigotry, and Sexual Violence Theme Icon
As Joe is walking home with the pie, Doe Lafournais pulls up in his car and offers to give Joe a ride. Joe shakes... (full context)
Chapter Nine: The Big Good-bye
Women, Bigotry, and Sexual Violence Theme Icon
...but Joe talks him into waiting until he gains more chest muscle. Joe leaves when Doe comes out and tells Cappy to chop wood. (full context)
Chapter Ten: Skin of Evil
Women, Bigotry, and Sexual Violence Theme Icon
Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon
...the room, Cappy calls Joe and tells him that some of his family (Joe presumes Doe, Randall, and Whitey) “paid a visit” to Linden and “messed him up good.” Geraldine comes... (full context)
Parenthood, Foster Families, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
...else, but Cappy insists he wants to help. Cappy tells Joe that they could take Doe’s rifle out to practice, but Joe is afraid of implicating the Lafournais family. Cappy proposes... (full context)
Chippewa Tradition vs. Catholicism Theme Icon
Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon
...that they have to start putting Joe’s plan to action, saying that Joe should take Doe’s rifle during the powwow that weekend. Joe feels horribly guilty at the idea of stealing... (full context)
Storytelling, Formality, and Writing Theme Icon
...place lawn chairs and set out coolers of food and drinks. When the powwow starts, Doe, as the MC, welcomes the crowd, makes bad jokes, and reminds the dancers of the... (full context)
Chippewa Tradition vs. Catholicism Theme Icon
...to dance and Joe, realizing it is time, heads to the Lafournais house to steal Doe’s gun. (full context)
Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon
...the glass and takes out the gun. He then puts ammo in his backpack, scatters Doe’s toolbox, and adjusts the TV so it looks like he tried to steal it. Joe... (full context)
Chippewa Tradition vs. Catholicism Theme Icon
...braided hair and perfect clothes. They join the rest of the dancers, moving with grace. Doe makes jokes over the loudspeaker. (full context)
Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon
...Then Randall walks off. Cappy compliments Joe’s work stealing the gun and tells him that Doe would understand why he did it. Joe tells Cappy firmly that he is carrying out... (full context)