Jacob Vaark

~ "A quick thinker, he flushed with pleasure when a crisis, large or small, needed invention and fast action." (pg. 14)

Different from other white men of this era, Jacob is cautious of the Native Americans land. Throughout the book, he shows an affection toward people looked down upon in society being an orphan.

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Jacob Vaark has to think quick on is feet because. His need for something to do or fix stems from his need to escape from the current situation in America

~ "... he disembarked, found a village and negotiated native trails on horseback, mindful of their fields of maize, careful throuh their hunting grounds, politely asking permission to enter a small village here, a larger one there." (pg. 14, 15)

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"... But his own fury was not because of the pain it inflicted on the horse, but because of the mute, unprotesting surrender glazing its eye." (pg. 33)

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To put this quote into context, Jacob was witnessing a horse getting beaten by a man. It says that Jacob could not stand to watch,that his hatred for abuse of animals was too strong. This event shows that he is full of compassion not likely found in those days. Not only that, but also that he especially does not like to see people (or aniamls) get hurt when they know they can not fight back.

Jacob Vaark lives on a farm with his wife and servants. However in the present day of the book he has already passed away. His life is told in flashback, as much of the story is done. He was the source that helped to artifcially hold the people of the farm together. Without him there, it is easy to see that nothing ever held any of the people together, and it is why there was a decline in the farm overall spirit.

~" And Sir-- she had never seen him in better spirits. [...] The last few years he seemed moody, less gentle, but when he decided to kill the trees and replace them with a profane monument to himself, he was cheerful every waking moment." (pg. 51)

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To take his mind off of the troubles that he is dealing with including the premature death of his children, and his own failing health, he decides to avoid it by creating a "monument" for only him.

~" Without patience, the lifeblood of farming, and reluctant to seek advice from villagers nearby, he was forever unprepared for violent, mocking changes in weather and for the fact that common predators neither knew nor cared to whom their prey belonged." (pg. 58)

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He was a very proud man which is shown through his reluctance to ask for help. However, he was also hopeful that, by himself he could make his farn work before his death. This is obviously shown impossible since he has no heirs.

~" He was indifferent, having himself withstood all pressure to join the village congregation but content to let her be persuaded if she chose." (pg. 102)

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This shows that Jacob was not confined by the ways of society. We saw this is struggles with race and gender, and now we see it with religion.

~" When a tall man with yellow hair came to dine, I saw he hated the food and I saw things in his eyes that said he did no trust Senhor, Senhora or their sons. His way, I thought, is another way. His country far from here. There was no animal in his herat. he never looked at me the way Senhor does. He did not want." (pg. 191)

This again shows how he is different than society. He would never rape his servant because he does not see them as property. It also show that he has a good judge of character being that he does not trust the D'Ortega family.

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