Laughing Boy
A Navajo woman with American influences, meets Laughing Boy at the dance.
I
Meets Laughing Boy at the dance; she is alluring but secretive about her background.
II
The slender girl who pulls Laughing Boy to dance; she wears exceptional jewelry and behaves in a shocking, forward manner.
II
Present at the dance, she captivates Laughing Boy with her appearance and demeanor.
I
Seen among neutral spectators; Laughing Boy asks about her and sees her watching the wrestling.
III
Reflects on her past, her time at the American school, and her relationship with an American man. She feels torn between her Navajo heritage and the American world.
I
Appears at the spring, demonstrates knowledge of Laughing Boy's horse and jewelry work, and engages in flirtatious banter.
II
Joins Laughing Boy on the mesa, listens to his song, and advises him not to speak to his uncle about their relationship.
III
Meets Laughing Boy secretly after his confrontation with his uncle; proposes elopement and shares her wealth and plans for their future.
IV
Triumphs over Laughing Boy's family and returns home with him, but begins to secretly meet with George Hartshorn, causing strain in the marriage.
I
Referenced as the girl Laughing Boy plans to leave with tomorrow.
II
Seen sitting apart from a group of women; exchanges a glance with Laughing Boy.
III
Watches Laughing Boy from halfway down the track during the race.
V
Uses charm and gifts to win over Laughing Boy's family, but hides her secret relationship with George.
I
Slim Girl is the central consciousness of the chapter, reflecting on her past, her hatred of Americans, and her calculated plan to use Laughing Boy to reclaim a Navajo life.
II
Composes herself after the dance, interacts with an American guide, joins relatives for supper, and reflects on Laughing Boy's gambling.
VI
Balances her life with Laughing Boy and her secret meetings with George.
I
Sits apart at dawn, watches the gambling hogan, intercepts Laughing Boy and persuades him to leave with her.
III
Falls in love with Laughing Boy during the journey, struggles with her desire and his cultural conventions.
IV
Leads Laughing Boy to her adobe house, works for the missionary's wife, and resolves to keep Laughing Boy away from town.
V
Reveals her traumatic boarding school experience and her true name, Came With War. She struggles with her desire for Laughing Boy and the need to navigate between Navajo tradition and her own conflicted past.
VII
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but her secret meetings with George Hartshorn strain the marriage.
I
Dresses in American clothes, arranges marriage with Yellow Singer, and meets with her American lover George.
II
Resolves to control Laughing Boy; orchestrates the marriage ceremony and introduces him to whiskey and American-style kissing.
III
Asleep in the house; Laughing Boy contemplates her magical, overwhelming influence on him.
VIII
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but her past and secret meetings with George Hartshorn create tension.
I
Awakens happy and grateful, plans to weave and work for a missionary woman to support their future, and reassures Laughing Boy of their shared goals.
II
Present during the storytelling, listening to Laughing Boy's account.
III
Gives Laughing Boy alcohol and resolves to use it as a means to control him.
IX
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but is secretly meeting with her American lover George.
I
Struggles with weaving, manages the sale of Laughing Boy's silver, and hides her first failed blanket.
II
Struggles with her weaving, feels inadequate, but ultimately learns to appreciate her work through Laughing Boy's guidance.
III
Weaves at her loom, reflects on her past and ambitions, manages their finances, and resolves to continue her dangerous path toward a perfect life.
I
Laughing Boy's wife; works in town for a tourist company; her difference and tiredness puzzle and concern him.
II
Returns to find Laughing Boy drunk and ill; arranges him in the ashes as a lesson.
IV
She dreads the ceremony, feeling jealous of Laughing Boy's connection to his people, and persuades him to stay.
XI
Maintains a double life, meeting her American lover George while pretending to be devoted to Laughing Boy.
I
Feels disturbed and uneasy about the visit, fears losing Laughing Boy to his people, but ultimately reassures herself of his commitment.
II
Experiences physical hardship on the journey, feels insecure about her place in Laughing Boy's world, and is deeply moved by the landscape.
III
Feels threatened and hostile toward the settlement of T'o Tlakai, contemplating the challenge of the community.
XII
Returns home with Laughing Boy, struggles with the winter and her secret meetings with George.
I
Performs an excellent impersonation of an attractive woman, saying and doing exactly the right things.
II
Accompanies Laughing Boy to his family; maintains a composed and correct demeanor, though secretly watchful and under strain.
III
Watches the Night Chant with mixed emotions, feeling foreign and nostalgic; participates in women's work and begins to win over her sisters-in-law.
IV
Reflects on her love for Laughing Boy and her dependence on him; watches the ceremony with awe and anxiety.
V
Eavesdrops on the family council, feeling excluded and anxious.
VI
Reflects on her triumph and power over Laughing Boy and George, contemplates staying in the hogan, and asserts her strength and knowledge.
XIII
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but the winter brings challenges to their relationship.
I
Laughing Boy's wife, who stays outside during the scheme and is given the silver bridle for safekeeping.
XIV
Returns home with Laughing Boy, faces winter strains and hidden tensions.
I
Suffers miserably in the cold, contrasts the ride with a previous journey, and feels anger and frustration.
II
Observes Laughing Boy's discomfort and cleverness, approving of his quick cover-up. She listens intently to the myth and reflects on their future together under her direction.
III
Rides well, plays tricks on horseback, prepares food, and shares a tender moment with Laughing Boy.
XV
Returns home joyfully but continues her secret relationship with George, causing strain in the marriage.
I
Consents to social life, undergoes Night Chant initiation, and explains her past with Red Man to Laughing Boy.
II
Balances her marriage with Laughing Boy and her secret meetings with George, using her American lover for money and revenge while feeling genuine love for her husband.
III
Feels powerful and happy as she conquers difficulties, earns income through weaving, and reinforces Navajo traditions.
XVI
Triumphs over Laughing Boy's family and returns home with him in a state of happiness.
I
Troubled by her husband's change, she reflects on her double life and considers giving up her American lover George.
II
Referenced as the source of Laughing Boy's anxiety; he feels she leads him and hides something, yet he loves her.
III
Waits for Laughing Boy, expresses loneliness, becomes troubled when he refuses alcohol, and tries to reassure him about their future.
IV
Continues weaving despite poor sales, finding relief in her craft; reflects on the design of her life and her uncertainty.
XVII
Triumphs over Laughing Boy's family during the visit, but her secret meetings with George Hartshorn create tension in the marriage.
I
Laughing Boy's wife; their relationship is strained at times, but she is central to his plans for wealth and return home.
II
Welcomes Jesting Squaw's Son, offers advice on helping him heal, and shares stories of Americans and California.
XVIII
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but continues her secret relationship with George Hartshorn, causing winter strain.
I
Caught with an American lover; she is shot in the arm by Laughing Boy and shows a mixture of fear and composure.
II
Referenced as the cause of Laughing Boy's anguish; he calls her 'Came With War' and a 'coyote' and 'bad woman.'
XIX
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but her secret meetings with George Hartshorn cause marital strain.
I
Wounded by Laughing Boy's arrow, endures the pain stoically, and reassures him of her love.
II
Confesses her entire past to Laughing Boy, including her seduction, time as a prostitute, and ongoing relationship with an American man for money.
III
Wounded but reconciled; expresses happiness and agrees to leave the American world for a life with Laughing Boy.
I
Reflects on her past trauma, longs for children, and worries about her ability to conceive.
II
Her arm is nearly healed; she reacts to past worries with optimism and joins Laughing Boy in planning their new home.
III
Mortally wounded by Red Man; dies peacefully in Laughing Boy's arms, expressing love and spiritual fulfillment.
IV
Deceased; her body is laid to rest with ceremonial care and valuable goods.
XXI
Returns home with Laughing Boy, but continues her secret relationship with George Hartshorn, causing tension in the marriage.
I
Appears as a ghostly vision during Laughing Boy's vigil, symbolizing his loss and guilt.
