# Crazy Ivar — O Pioneers! character guide

> Crazy Ivar in O Pioneers! by Willa Cather.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ivar, old Ivar, Old Ivar

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-the-wild-land

## Snapshot

An eccentric old herdsman who lives on the Bergson place, dresses strangely, prays over his animals, and sees further into people than the neighbors credit.

## Who they are

Ivar is the Divide's local oddity, feared by Annie's children and denounced by Lou, who wants him committed before he burns a barn. Alexandra keeps him anyway, valuing his wordless wisdom and his tenderness with creatures. His presence tests her neighbors' opinion of her and quietly marks the limits of what the community will tolerate.

## Relationships

### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson)

_professional_

Alexandra employs Crazy Ivar as a farmhand, treating him with kindness and respect despite his eccentricity.

### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson)

_social_

Crazy Ivar and Emil have a cordial but distant relationship, with Ivar occasionally offering wisdom.

### [Lou Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/lou_bergson)

_social_

Crazy Ivar and Lou interact as employer and employee, with Lou often mocking Ivar's eccentricities.

### [Signa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/signa)

_professional_

Crazy Ivar and Signa are fellow servants on Alexandra's farm, working together harmoniously.

### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson)

_professional_

Alexandra employs Crazy Ivar as a farmhand, treating him with kindness and respect despite his eccentricity.

### [Lou Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/lou_bergson)

_social_

Crazy Ivar and Lou interact as employer and employee, with Lou often mocking Ivar's eccentricities.

### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson)

_social_

Crazy Ivar and Emil have a cordial but distant relationship, with Ivar occasionally offering wisdom.

### [Signa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/signa)

_professional_

Crazy Ivar and Signa are fellow servants on Alexandra's farm, working together harmoniously.

### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson)

_professional_

Alexandra employs Crazy Ivar as a farmhand, treating him with kindness and respect despite his eccentricity.

### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson)

_social_

Crazy Ivar and Emil have a cordial but distant relationship, with Ivar occasionally offering wisdom.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iii)

Shares his wisdom about birds and offers practical advice on raising hogs.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/ii)

An elderly member of the household, he fears being sent to an asylum due to his visions and differences, but Alexandra reassures him.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iii)

Discussed as a potential danger by Lou and Annie, but defended by Alexandra as harmless.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as making his morning ablutions at the pump; his views on wild things are invoked by Marie.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/xi)

Meets Emil at the windmill and takes his horse.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/ii)

Drives the wagon to take the wedding presents and the bride and groom to their new home.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/viii)

Discovers Emil's mare and the bodies of Emil and Marie in the orchard; breaks the news to Alexandra.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/i)

Found mending harness in the barn; he joins Signa in searching for Alexandra and offers spiritual comfort.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as one of the few people Alexandra has had to talk to.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/crazy_ivar
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters