Short Fiction · Character

Yogi Johnson

A pump-factory veteran walking out into the chinook wind, disturbed to find that spring has arrived and he no longer wants a woman.

major

Also known as Yogi, Henry, Henry Fielding XI Yogi Johnson, Johnson, XI Yogi Johnson, Henry Fielding XIII Yogi Johnson, XIII Yogi Johnson

First appearance: the torrents of spring

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Yogi Johnson is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Stands at the pump-factory window, thinking of Paris and the coming spring.

In the storyRed and Black LaughterOpen this moment free

See Yogi Johnson in Red and Black Laughter Book page

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Yogi Johnson leaves the workmen's entrance into melting snow and a town suddenly full of thaw, and the season's arrival unsettles him more than the war did. He tests himself against waitresses, librarians, schoolgirls,…

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See Yogi Johnson in the torrents of spring

Character Web

41 connections

A slice of how Yogi Johnson sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Social

Character groups

Boxing and Bullfighting
Fighters and Managers
Native American Characters

+36 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the doctor’s hollow reassurance—that the narrator will play f…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Indians
friendship · positive
Indians and Yogi Johnson share a bond of camaraderie and mutual respect, often traveling… How this plays out →
Jack Brennan
friendship · positive
The Indian
friendship · positive
El Heraldo
social · ambivalent
Massa Red Dog
friendship · positive
Indians
friendship · positive
Indians and Yogi Johnson share a bond of camaraderie and mutual respect, often traveling… How this plays out →
Massa Red Dog
friendship · positive
Jack Brennan
friendship · positive
The Indian
friendship · positive
Jack Brennan
friendship · positive
El Heraldo
social · ambivalent
The Indian
friendship · positive

Indians
Indians and Yogi Johnson share a bond of camaraderie and mutual respect, often traveling or working together.
Jack Brennan
Jack Brennan and Yogi Johnson are fellow boxers or associates, with a bond formed through shared experiences in the fighting world.
The Indian
The Indian and Yogi Johnson have a respectful and cooperative relationship, often interacting as peers.
El Heraldo
El Heraldo is a newspaper or reporter that frequently covers or interacts with Yogi Johnson, possibly for interviews.
Massa Red Dog
Massa Red Dog and Yogi Johnson are friends or allies, sharing a bond possibly in a military or frontier context.
Indians
Indians and Yogi Johnson share a bond of camaraderie and mutual respect, often traveling or working together.
Massa Red Dog
Massa Red Dog and Yogi Johnson are friends or allies, sharing a bond possibly in a military or frontier context.
Jack Brennan
Jack Brennan and Yogi Johnson are fellow boxers or associates, with a bond formed through shared experiences in the fighting world.
The Indian
The Indian and Yogi Johnson have a respectful and cooperative relationship, often interacting as peers.
Jack Brennan
Jack Brennan and Yogi Johnson are fellow boxers or associates, with a bond formed through shared experiences in the fighting world.
El Heraldo
El Heraldo is a newspaper or reporter that frequently covers or interacts with Yogi Johnson, possibly for interviews.
The Indian
The Indian and Yogi Johnson have a respectful and cooperative relationship, often interacting as peers.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Yogi Johnson in the torrents of spring

In the story

Yogi Johnson appears across 13 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Red and Black Laughter
Stands at the pump-factory window, thinking of Paris and the coming spring.
I
Stands looking out the window, thinking of Paris and the coming spring.
The Struggle for Life
War veteran from Cadillac; shows Scripps around the pump factory.
VI
Shows Scripps around the pump-factory, explains the manufacturing process, and mentions his war experience.
VII
Scripps thinks about Yogi Johnson, wondering about his war experience and his time in Paris.
X
Mentioned as the other protagonist; the narrative prepares to return to him.
Men in War and the Death of Society
Protagonist walking from pump-factory, troubled by lack of desire for women, reflecting on war and soldiering.
Chapter XI
Reflects on war and combat, feels humiliated by the Indians' war records, decides to seek a woman.
XII
Yogi is guided by two Indians to a poolroom and later to an Indian club, where he plays pool, drinks, and meets various characters.
The Passing of a Great Race and the Making and Marring of Americans
Walks with two Indians, reflects on his war trauma and a Parisian experience that caused his loss of desire, then declares himself cured and leaves the beanery.
XIII
Walks with two Indian veterans, reflects on the war and his aimlessness, leads them to a beanery.
XIV
Reveals his traumatic Paris experience and subsequent cure upon seeing the squaw.
Night in Petoskey
Walks naked in the moonlight beside the squaw, casting off his garments.

Chapter companion notes

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See Yogi Johnson in the torrents of spring

See Yogi Johnson in Red and Black Laughter