# Lou — Songs of a Sourdough character guide

> Lou in Songs of a Sourdough by Robert W. Service.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0015-the-shooting-of-dan-mcgrew

## Who they are

The woman at the Malamute whose kiss and pinch of the poke make her the quiet hinge on which Dan McGrew's last night turns.

## Relationships

### [Dangerous Dan McGrew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/dangerous_dan_mcgrew)

_romantic_

Dangerous Dan McGrew and Lou share a passionate but volatile romantic relationship, with Lou being the object of Dan's possessive affection.

### [the stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/the_stranger)

_romantic_

Lou shares a secret romantic connection with the stranger, which triggers Dan McGrew's jealousy and the fatal showdown.

### [Sam McGee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/sam_mcgee)

_social_

Lou and Sam McGee are mere acquaintances in the Yukon gold rush community, with minimal direct interaction.

## In the story

### [Songs of a Sourdough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/songs-of-a-sourdough)

Dance-hall girl in 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew', whose presence and past connection to the stranger add emotional depth to the saloon scene.

### [The Harpy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/the-harpy)

The speaker of the poem, a woman of 23 who is old in wisdom and experience, working as a prostitute in a saloon.

### [The Shooting of Dan McGrew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/the-shooting-of-dan-mcgrew)

Watching Dan's luck and later the stranger, she is implied to have betrayed the stranger by kissing him and stealing his poke.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/lou
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters