Lieutenant John Dunbar Character Analysis

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Lieutenant John Dunbar from the book “Dances With Wolves” by Michael Blake is an American soldier who is eventually became a comanche who can be described as courageous and smart through the obstacles he has faced that gave him a purpose too his life. At first, Lieutenant Dunbar has two wives and a family at home that he left to fight in the civil war and be patriotic. However, over time Lieutenant Dunbar becomes Dances With Wolves and has outstanding qualities of curiousness, and is very witty the same and finds his true friends. First, Lieutenant Dunbar is characterized as intelligent and observant of his surroundings unlike most people. For instance, when he was staying at the abandoned Fort Sedgewick he first saw a wolf across from a …show more content…

Well, of they ate him up, the devil could have no leftovers (77pg) .” This statement proves that Lieutenant Dunbar is very courageous by willing to sacrifice his life to avoid wasting his life. Also, this example shows how he did not want to put off the conflict which was his way of dealing with it. Similarly, when the rival of the his Indian friends, the Pawnee Indians, was coming to attack the village Lieutenant Dunbar's response was, “ I would drive the enemy into the river and kill so many that they would never come this way again(pg. 242).” This quote proves that when facing conflict he is willing to fight for the people that matter most to him and calm, and never fearful of it. Lastly, when American soldiers are going to bring Lieutenant Dunbar to jail in a wagon and the Comanches, his Indian friends, came to save him, the book quotes his immediate response, “ Dances With Wolves landed on top of him and they grappled briefly in the water before he could work himself free(pg.275) .” This quote proves that Lieutenant Dunbar is not afraid of any enemy and trusts his true friends. In conclusion, the book “Dances With Wolves” by Michael Blake the character Lieutenant John Dunbar is brave, smart, and uses his traits to stand up to any