Empire of Wild

Joan is the protagonist of the novel. Her motivation to find and win back her husband Victor drives the action of the plot, creating conflict when Heiser resists these efforts by trying to keep Victor for himself.

Joan is a Métis woman in her late thirties. She is confident, bold, and self-aware. Joan typically finds it easy to trust her gut and her instincts. For example, shortly after meeting Victor, Joan “knew that she wasn’t getting back on the bus” (9) because she is going to change her plans to pursue a relationship. This quality serves her well when she sets off on an improbable quest. Joan is also deeply in love with Victor such that “without [him], Joan was half erased” (7). Joan is also self-assured about her sexuality and her body and often thinks longingly about the sexual connection that she shared with her husband.

Over the course of the novel, Joan remains quite consistent as a character. She responds to events around her, but she does not change any of her core characteristics. Joan’s consistency is important because it is what allows her to resolve the central problem of how to get Victor back.