Island of the Blue Dolphins

Chief Chowig leads the villagers of Ghalas-at with caution and peace. Knowing the value of otter pelts, he shrewdly refuses to let the Aleuts camp on the island until Captain Orlov agrees to compensate the villagers fairly. When the Aleuts’ hunting makes Karana emotional, Chief Chowig looks at the situation logically and reminds her that many otters remain alive; still, he warns his people against befriending the hunters. He takes precautions to try to keep the Aleuts from leaving without paying, such as appointing lookouts, commissioning a new canoe, and preparing a spear in case a fight proves necessary. Despite these preparations, peace remains Chief Chowig’s goal up until his death in the battle of Coral Cove. Even when Captain Orlov tries to cheat the villagers by giving them a mere fourth of the agreed-upon price, the chief tries to resolve the dispute with words and gives the captain every opportunity to honor their agreement.

Chief Chowig’s importance as a secondary character stems from his dual role as the protagonist’s beloved father and the village’s authority figure. Karana looks up to her father, whom she fondly remembers as “so tall and strong and kind” (26). His death marks the end of Karana’s peaceful childhood and old way of life. Bereft of both of her parents, she must quickly mature, watch over her younger brother, and learn to fend for herself. In addition, the memory of Chief Chowig is an obstacle for Karana in her struggle for survival and self-determination. As the chief of Ghalas-at, he enforced his people’s traditions and gender norms, including the law that forbids women from making weapons.

This law echoes in Karana’s mind and threatens to hold her back during key moments, such as when she tries to kill a sea elephant. However, she eventually rejects her father’s teachings, crafts the weapons she needs to survive, and forges a new identity for herself outside of her people’s traditions. When she decides to no longer kill animals, she knows her people would laugh at her for this choice, her “father most of all” (149). If he were alive, Chief Chowig might not understand or accept Karana’s decisions, but she honors his memory by acting with the strength and kindness she so admired in him.

Ramo, Karana’s mischievous younger brother, is one of the novel’s most important secondary characters. The six-year-old shows his penchant for make-believe by declaring himself chief of the island when he and Karana are its only inhabitants. The young boy also has a tendency to rush into things. Karana observes that Ramo is as “foolish as a cricket when he was excited” (1). He demonstrates this excitability in Chapter 1 when he runs off on his own after realizing that a ship is approaching the island. When he disobeys Karana by going back for his fishing spear, the white men’s ship leaves him behind.

Ramo’s habit of wandering off advances the plot and motivates Karana. The first time he runs off, Karana stays behind to finish digging roots, a task they were supposed to complete together. This shows the reader that Karana is responsible, and that she keeps careful control of her emotions despite being a child. The second time Ramo wanders off marks a major turning point in the novel. While the other villagers sail away, Karana chooses to remain on the island so Ramo will not be left alone. This decision illustrates her courageous, protective love and profoundly shapes the rest of the novel. The third time Ramo wanders off results in his death by wild dogs. Karana’s desire to avenge her brother is what drives her to break the law that prohibits women from crafting weapons. Although Ramo does not live to see the woman his sister becomes, his actions play an important role in her development.

Rontu isn’t a human, but his ferocity and loyalty make him one of the novel’s most dynamic characters. When he first appears, the “big gray dog with long curling hair and yellow eyes” is distrustful of humans (45). Because he is the leader of the island’s wild dogs, Karana blames him for the killing of her six-year-old brother, Ramo. Rontu’s origins elucidate his early behavior and parallel Karana’s own story. Like Karana, Rontu’s life is forever changed by the battle of Coral Cove. The Aleut hunters hurriedly depart after the fight, and Rontu is left behind. While Karana loses her beloved father in the conflict, Rontu is separated from his owner, Tutok.

After the battle, both Rontu and Karana become distrustful of people and must adapt to survive new lives. Karana learns how to fend for herself, and Rontu becomes the leader of the wild dogs and raids the village for food. Rontu’s mischievous side emerges after he leaves the pack and befriends Karana. For example, he swipes one of Karana’s fish, prompting her to inquire how he can be “such a handsome dog and yet such a thief” (97). The occasional theft aside, Rontu takes his role as Karana’s friend and protector seriously. He accompanies her on many adventures and fights the giant devilfish at the risk of his life.

As an animal and Karana’s closest companion for many years, Rontu occupies a unique position at the intersection of the themes of nature and friendship. His transformation from a sworn enemy to a dear friend foreshadows Karana’s ability to befriend his original owner, Tutok, despite the conflict between their peoples. In addition, Karana’s act of mercy in sparing Rontu changes both of them. Rontu learns to trust humans again and trades his status as leader of the wild pack for the role of faithful companion. For her part, caring for Rontu eases Karana’s loneliness, fills her days with joy, and revives the nurturing side of her that faded after her brother’s death. Overall, Rontu teaches Karana valuable lessons about friendship and ensures that she does not need to face the struggle for survival alone.