I Heard the Owl Call My Name

Describe Jim Wallace?

How is Jim Wallace described in the novel?

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Jim Wallace is a young Indian man from the Village of Kingcome. He has been working outside the village in a mill town but is eager to return home. He agrees to teach Mark how to handle the boat and navigate the coastal waters, and in general Jim becomes Mark's assistant and teacher concerning many of the practical daily matters of living in a remote and isolated area. Jim clearly treasures Kingcome, the people, culture and natural surroundings. He is in love with Keetah, who at the beginning of the story is engaged to Gordon. Jim grew up in Kingcome and has all the manual skills needed to survive and prosper in the remote area, such as fishing, boating and hunting abilities. He also has a good mind and willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas, a flexibility needed to help the village and its culture survive as the white world surrounds and invades it. Jim also grows and learns from Mark over the course of his time in Kingcome, particularly in how to better deal with Keetah and adopt selected customs from the white world that will be useful.