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Peace Like a River
Character Analysis

Reuben Land: In this novel, Rueben is the protagonist, and everything that happens is seen through his point of view.  As the book opens he looks back eleven years and begins to tell us about his miracle-working father and how he saved Rueben's life when he was born.  Because Reuben has asthma, breathing is a constant struggle, and he knows well what a gift it is to be able to have "a good pair of lungs."  

In the beginning, Reuben appears to be somewhat unsure of himself and unopinionated, letting his precocious little sister Swede form opinions for both of them. He greatly admires and looks up to his brother Davy, wanting to be considered mature by him and respected by him.  

When Davy breaks out of jail after killing two thugs who had threatened their family and broke into their house, his father decides that they should go look for him. So Dad, Swede, and Reuben sell their house and much of their belongings, taking only the bare neccessities with them (exept for Swede's typewriter and horse saddle), and head out to the Badlands of North Dakota looking for Davy.  In this time Reuben grows and matures as we all do when going through trials.  Because many of their old "friends" deserted them after Davy's crime, he begins to see the fickleness of peoples' loyalties, especially with the press. He realizes that only true friends stick with you through the good and bad, but most stay away at the first sign of trouble.  The inconsistency of the press' opinions of his brother only reinforce that lesson.  He also has to learn to work hard and give up things for his family when his father loses his job and they don't have any more food left.

Being the only witness when Davy shot Israel Finch and Tommy Basca, Reuben is bothered by the thought that his brother is a murderer, but he is very mature in the way he handles the situation.  It causes him to grow up very quickly.   Before this Reuben tended to get proud and puff up like a hot air balloon after accomplishing something; but through testifying at Davy's trial where he gets cocky and says too much, he learns the lesson that "pride goes before a fall."

Because asthma is a very present and constant trouble in Reuben's life, one of the conflicts in this book is his dilemna in trying to understand why his father heals other people and works many miracles but won't save his own son from his worst struggle. After Jeremiah dies in place of his son, Rueben's lungs are miraculously healed and become perfect, making him ever grateful to his father, not only for healing him, but for everything he has taught him and the godly life he lived as an example for him and Swede.

Jeremiah Land: Jeremiah Land, known more commonly as Dad, is Reuben's godly father.  Early in his life, he gave up a career as a doctor because he felt called to be a janitor.  Because of his decision to follow his calling from God, his wife left him to raise three children alone.  Despite this loss, he remained an incredibly gentle father who loved his family and looked out for their good.  Throughout the book, anyone can see that Dad had a faith in God that was as strong as iron.  Performing miracles seemed to be a gift of his, as many of the events in this book could only have happened supernaturally. 
 
Throughout the book he remains a caring father who is concerned for his children and wants them happy and well.  Reuben tells us that after Davy kills Finch and Basca, he is in anguish over it, even as if it were him that killed them.  And while of course he wanted Davy safe,he was always obedient to God even when it came to giving him up to the police when he felt that was the right thing to do.  He was always very patient with people, sometimes to the chagrin of his children.  But even though his children didn't always understand him, they always loved him and knew that he loved them.
 
While he was a very constant character, he did change slightly towards the end of the book.  He was the first one in the Land family to change his opinion about Martin Andreeson.  He began to look at him as one who needed to hear the truth, rather than an enemy trying to hurt his son.   
 
 In the novel, there seem to be some parallels between him and the person of Jesus.  Two of his miracles in particular come to mind with this comparison.  The first being the fact that he healed the face of his boss Mr. Holgren, even after he humiliated and fired him in front of half the school, just as Jesus healed many who did not deserve to be healed either.  The other parallel I see is that of Jeremiah giving up his life and letting his son live a little while longer.  While this is similiar to Jesus' sacrifice on earth, Jesus went even farther, giving his children eternal life with Him in Heaven, not only letting them live a little while longer on earth. 
 
Swede Land: Swede is Rueben's precocious little sister.  She is very smart for her age and seems to be a natural leader, so Reuben tends to follow her.  While being spunky and opinionated, she is very mature for her age, and as Reuben says, "often sees to the nub."
 
Swede has a very big imagination and an incredible gift of writing for one so young.  Early in her life she became fascinated with the "old West" and began writing a ballad about a cowboy named Sunny Sundown.  Sunny is really a metaphor modeled after Davy, and bits and pieces of his story are spread throughout the book. 
 
Swede tends to express her feelings through her writing and through the events of Sunny Sundown's life, particularly when she is upset.  When problems come up in her life, problems come up in her writing.  For example, after Basca and Finch kidnapped her she was very angry and sad.  She probably felt like they could do whatever they wanted and there would be no concequences for them.  When this happened she tried to kill the villain in her ballad, Valdez, but just couldn't do it. 
 
Swede is an absolute delight to read about.  She is very close to Reuben and can see through almost any false pretense that he might try to put up.  She has a wonderful, cute sense of humor and lights up her family's life.  The book would not be the same without her.
 
Davy Land: Davy is Reuben's independent older brother.  While only sixteen years old, he always gives the appearance of an adult fully capable of caring for himself.  He has a mind of his own and doesn't want anybody telling him what to do.  He is a good older brother to Reuben, giving him opportunities to grow up and do things for himself like hunting.  He always encouraged Reuben and Swede and it is clear that he loved his family and wanted them taken care of.
 
The trouble with Davy is his impatience.  After Basca and Finch attacked his girlfriend he was angry.  He thought they "got off easy" and hadn't received their payment in full.  It's very understandable that he was angry because obviously the law was not going to do anything. He seemed to feel that the only way to get retribution was to punish them himself.  So, not understanding that "the victory" was already theirs, he decided not to wait on God for justice, and took matters into his own hands, killing both Basca and Finch.  It was definitely a planned action.  Davy was confident and knowledgeable, and when he shot, "he showed no tremor." 
 
After the murder, he is unconcerned with his defense, but remains the same driven, independent guy that he was before the murder.  Perhaps the reason he isn't remorseful is that he feels that he was protecting his family and other victims by killing off the two. 
 
Davy makes the perfect "heroic outlaw type."  He enjoys the wilderness and the outdoors enough to have a fugitive life-style.   Not very easily persuaded, he is very determined to do things for himself and not take peoples' help.  Most will like the character of Davy, despite the fact that he killed Basca and Finch, and many can identify with his independent spirit, and wanting to live his own life.  
 
Roxanna Cawley:  Roxanna Cawley comes into the story a bit later than the other main characters.  As Reuben, Swede, and Dad are traveling out in the North Dakota Badlands, they stop at her house to fill up their car which has been out of gas and running only by the grace of God since the day before.  Because it was Sunday and they were closed, it was very kind of her to help them out and fill up their car.  Reuben's first impression of Roxanna is that she is "built to last."  She had a rather rugged appearance, and seemed as though she were a bit tough, but not unfriendly.  Because she offers them a place to stay, the Lands get to know her better and discover that she really is a very warm, wonderful person.  Because she grew up without a mother as well, Roxanna is able to understand Reuben and Swede's need for a motherly role in their lives, and is able to create a real home for them.  One can tell that she truly cares about the Lands and wants to help them. 
 
Swede is very fond of her and doesn't want to leave, probably because she is finally realizes what she was missing, growing up without a mother, and doesn't want to give it up again.  She and Roxanna are also very compatable in that Roxanna is very intelligent and uses a broad vocabulary that Swede admires and also knows quite a bit about the western outlaw Butch Cassidy. 
 
As the Lands get to know Roxanna, her rugged appearance seems to soften, and realize the beauty of her character as it shines through to them.  The more Dad stays there, the more he realizes how much he loves her.  They both have a mutual respect and attraction for each other that is very touching.  When they decide to get married, both of the children are overjoyed.  They too have grown to love Roxanna and accept her as a mother. 
 
Roxanna completes the Land family and fits them like a glove.  Reuben once remarked that after they came to Roxanna's his father didn't work any miracles.  However, as the book ends, I think he comes to realize that Roxanna herself is a miracle for their family, and a saving grace after Dad dies ("Reading").  Roxanna's beautiful heart is an endearing attribute to her character.    

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