# Edwin M. Stanton — The Middle Five character guide

> Edwin M. Stanton in The Middle Five by Francis La Flesche.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Edwin, Edwin Stanton

**First appearance:** 0005-iii-edwin

## Snapshot

The Middle Five's resident storyteller and moral compass, who reads Aleck's silence as grief and defends the smallest boys from bullies.

## Who they are

Edwin moves through the schoolroom with the authority of a boy who has seen more than he says, whether warning Jim off little Bob or explaining that Aleck's laugh died with his father. He teases Lester into climbing the bee tree, then shouts encouragement with a grin. His blend of tenderness and mischief makes him the gang's conscience and its best interpreter of other boys' hearts.

## In the story

### [The Middle Five](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/the-middle-five)

A boy among the students, contributing to the school dynamics.

### [Edwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/iii-edwin)

A new boy at the mission school, renamed Edwin M. Stanton. He is curious and struggles with the school's religious practices, comparing prayer to hiding in the grass.

### [Little Bob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/iv-little-bob)

Member of 'the Middle Five' gang who lingers to keep Frank company after school.

### [V: Warren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/v-warren)

Defends little Bob from Jim's teasing and later punches Jim for causing the fight.

### [VI: Lester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/vi-lester)

Teases Lester about climbing and his girl's ribbon; participates in spying.

### [The Splinter, the Thorn, and the Rib](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/vii-the-splinter-the-thorn-and-the-rib)

Tells the Omaha legend of the thorn turning into a girl; his loud storytelling wakes Graybeard.

### [X: A Runaway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/x-a-runaway)

Mentioned as not returning to school because his father wanted him to join the buffalo hunt.

### [A New Study](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/xi-a-new-study)

His dog howls along during Frank's attempt to lead singing at supper.

### [The Secret of the Big Seven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/xiii-the-secret-of-the-big-seven)

Tells Indian tales by the fire, whispers explanations to the narrator during the ritual, and accompanies George on the pemmican expedition.

### [A Rebuke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/xiv-a-rebuke)

Edwin waters horses and wrestles with the narrator on the way home.

### [XV: Joe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/xv-joe)

Asks the narrator about the incident with Graybeard and Joe.

### [The Break](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/chapters/xvi-the-break)

One of the boys on the fence who asks the narrator if he saw Brush.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/characters/edwin_m_stanton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_five_se/characters