Will’s Personality Traits to either Harlen’s or Louise’s, Essay Example

The author (King) creates diverse characters in Medicine River, in order to highlight their coping mechanism with the society, social status, and standing on their own feet. The below short analysis will compare and contrast two different characters: Will and Harlen.

Will is depicted as the follower, while Harlen is the leader. He is much faster taking actions than Will, and he was the one who helped his friend set up his photo business. Harlen’s eyes are open to search for opportunities, while Will is closed up, as he has no confidence. When Harlen tries to get Will to play in the local basketball team, he fails to convince him first, because Will is full of self-doubt. The major contrast between the two characters is that while Will has the attitude of a survivor, who simply goes with the flow, Harlen is the surfer, and opportunist, with a “can-do” attitude.

Harlen is unpredictable, while Will is steady and worried about changes. As King (1) describes him: “Harlen Bigbear was like the prairie wind. You never knew when he was coming or when he was going to leave”. He observes people and gathers information about them, because he thinks this knowledge can help him get on. In contrast, Will only goes back to Medicine River because he is disappointed in Toronto, and wants to set up his business in the small community. Still, again, his memories from his childhood make him an introvert, and a conservative.

When Will is finally recognized in the community as a tribal photographer, he is happy, as it helps him connect with his past and roots. Harlen, on the other hand, helped him set up an image as a “native photographer”, for practical reasons: to eliminate the competition. Will focuses on finding his true identity, and reaches back to the past to understand himself. Harlen, on the other hand, focuses on the present and the future opportunities. Will believes he finally found himself when he speaks to his brother again after a long time: tradition and roots are important for him. Harlen only finds satisfaction in creativity, scheming, and helping others.

The two characters are different, as they have a completely different approach towards life. While Harlen is full of confidence, and is able to survive almost anything by grabbing the right opportunities and taking action in time, Will is more passive. He does not believe he can succeed, or gain a girl’s attention. Interestingly, when Harlen tells him about Louise and that he should ask her out, he agrees. The surprise comes when he sticks with the girl after he finds out that she is pregnant with another man’s child. While the practical Harlen would have left and sought another girl, Will sticks with Louise, and helps her out. He is deeply controlled by his emotions and past experiences. As Will’s father left him, his brother, and mother early, he understands how hard the girl’s situation will be. He promises to look after her and the baby, as if he wanted to make up for his own childhood.

While both characters are survivors, Will is looking to make sense of the past, while Harlen is focusing on the future. Will wants to make things right and better than his parents, and that is why he becomes a father for the children, and a role model for the community. The two coping mechanisms are contrasted well in King’s novel: “Medicine River”.

King, T. “Medicine River”. 1989. Print.