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Family frictions and loyalties loom large in Iron Lake, with the LeBeau and O’Connor families as the clearest examples. How do these family dynamics drive the plot of – and the mysteries at the center of – this book?
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Paul Le Beau is the one who finds the dead Judge and then goes missing so his disappearance is one of the central mysteries to solve. Although I suspected something bad had happened to his father, the twists in this mystery were mostly a surprise to me. Obviously, Jo and Cork’s separation is a big element in the plot. Jo’s relationship with Sandy being the most obvious plot thread that provides plenty of friction and drama and conflict between the couple. Their separation and lack of truthfulness with each other means there is mistrust between them which adds to the tension. It also means Cork faces challenges with his kids, especially his eldest.
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I think you are right about how important finding Paul and keeping him safe is to Cork. I believe he would have left the murders of the Judge and Lytton to Wally if he had not been concerned about Paul and aware of how prejudice about Native people and assumptions about Joe John rooted in his addiction meant that the official investigation would be incomplete.
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My initial reaction to this question was that the LeBeau family was about loyalty and the O’Connor family about friction. At least, superficially that is how it looks. The LeBeau family’s loyalty to Joe John leads Wanda to confront and ultimately kill the Judge, Tom Griffin to cover her actions by making his death look like suicide and Paul to kill Harlan Lytton. They come across as mostly unified and committed to how they handle what they are facing. One of the most poignant comments when they explain things to Cork is Darla’s expression of regret that she accepted the explanation of Joe John’s absence, that he had relapsed and abandoned her and Paul. His disappearance almost certainly brought up old frictions from his years of drinking, painful memories and emotions for her. But it is their agreement to confide in Cork and trust him that also helps him put together the loose ends of other events and pieces of the puzzle. The O’Connor family appears to be friction personified, at least for Jo and Cork and to a certain extent Jenny who seems to recognize the conflict between her parents. There is loyalty too, Anne and Stevie make clear that they want their dad around. Stevie makes a Lego jail to hold onto him and Annie prays her parents will get back together. Jenny cleans up Cork’s ransacked quarters at Sam’s Place. Rose is also loyal, pointing out to Jo that the house on Gooseberry Lane is Cork’s and interceding to help him. Ultimately, Cork and Jo are loyal to each other, not to their marriage, but to the person. Jo tells Sandy that Cork is “A good man.” In the final scene with Sandy, Cork is protecting Jo and Jo ultimately saves Cork’s life by shooting at the jeep Sandy intends to drive over Cork. The photos of their marital infidelity are what helps Cork to piece together the actions of the Judge, Lytton and Sandy. Finally, there is another example of family loyalty that I found touching; Wally’s loyalty to Arletta. Even though his actions were at least unethical, he is dedicated to her.
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The Le Beau family’s loyalty is a protective wall against a governmental system that can undermine their security. It is why Della seeks Cork’s assistance vice Wally’s. The Le Beau’s tend to serve their own justice (including murder) amidst family cohesion as they don’t trust fairness from white man’s institutions. They have suffered prejudice and find solace and support among each other. The O’Connor family lives the friction of supporting both systems. Jo fights for Native American justice in a white judicial system; Cork does so with the realities on the ground, and is plagued by how law enforcement supports actual justice. The LeBeau’s pay the price of keeping to themselves and the O’Connor’s literally are split between the worlds they serve. Even the children of both families suffer the consequences of this situation, leading to a seemingly never-ending cycle of strife. The Le Beaus require law enforcement to discern Joe John’s disposition. Their family and local ties secure Paul. Cork’s knowledge of both cultures and characters leads him to uncover the militia and the corruption surrounding the casino. His integrity ensures both sides are held accountable. He pays for this independent approach as he can disenfranchise both sides (paying the ultimate cost of losing his sheriff’s position during the fishing rights dispute). His prioritization of law enforcement over family threatens his marriage and the security of his entire family and loved ones.
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Absolutely! When you consider all of the forces you describe, it is not surprising that they would pull families apart, especially Jo and Cork.
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So well said. The societal and cultural forces add a whole other layer of friction to the loyalties of the families and the choices they make.
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Your comments also reminded me of another scene if the story where Cork has concluded the contentious meeting with the Anishanaabe before the first day of fishing and extracted their reluctant agreement to follow his plans to protect them. Cork is challenged to demonstrate he is one of the People, a demand he cannot meet to their satisfaction and also fulfill his responsibility as sheriff. Jo, however, as their lawyer can be entirely on the side of the Anishanaabe and is welcomed by them while Cork is suspect. “He saw how they all welcomed Jo among them. Although she had not a drop of the blood of The People in her, she was more one of them at that moment than Cork had even been.” Now that would have to be a source of friction.
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Excellent point and I had forgotten that one. She is always their advocate. Poor Cork!
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One of the things I admire about Cork is his respect for autonomous women and their accomplishments. That includes Jo and even Jenny. Even at his most self-absorbed and angry, he does not belittle or dismiss their achievements and strengths.
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Cork and Jo’s relationship conflict is central to Cork’s personal drama throughout the book. When her relationship with Sandy is revealed through the blackmail photos it not only drives a bigger wedge between them but also raises questions about why the Judge would take photos of his own son. Jo’s actions are also questionable and made me wonder what kind of wife and person she really was (that she began the affair before separating from Cork pushed me more onto Cork’s side of things, that’s for sure). It made me wonder where her loyalties lay during the final confrontation with Sandy.
As for the Le Beaus, I saw the mysteries around Paul and Joe John as more plot driven than character driven so I wasn’t as engaged in them as much but I like how Krueger wove both Le Beaus into the murder mysteries.
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I found myself siding with Cork in his marriage too especially with the timing of Jo’s relationship with Sandy. By his own admission, though, Cork says, “I wasn’t much of a husband or father.” Although I feel more sympathetic with Cork but also see a certain mutuality in their marital struggles.
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About all I can add is the image of the two geese who stay together because one is injured. To me, they represent what any number of relationships in the book should have been, especially Darla and Joe John, Cork and Jo and the white and Native cultures. The geese definitely represent Wally and Arletta. I think it is also important that Cork is not the one who wants a divorce and is willing to cut off his relationship with Molly because he wants his family back. Another aspect of Cork’s conflict comes from his white heritage, “and in his way of living he’d chosen the white man’s world. With his reddish hair and fair skin, he looked more Irish than he ever would Ojibwe. And life was difficult enough as it was. To live it as Indian would have made it that much harder.” Another part of his friction is the law versus justice. Having been in law enforcement, he sees himself as “not on a side, but to abide by the law and see that everyone else does too. Law is in books; justice is a point of view. I (Cork) can’t enforce a point of view.”
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Thanks! Definitely a wonderful example of loyalty.
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