Joe's Pursuit Of Justice In The Round House By Erdrich

Josie Bryn

In the begining of the book Joe’s mom is attacked and raped, she was in the hospital for some time but they still hadn’t found her attacker. Unfortunately, without any details from Joe’s mom the case is unable to move forward. She develops PTSD and is unable to leave her bedroom. With the case stalled and Joe’s mother unable to share any details, Joe feels it is up to him to solve the case and get justice for his mother. The key theme of The Round House is pursuit of justice.

Initially Joe wanted his father, Bazil, who works as a tribal judge on the reservation, to find and punish his mother’s perpetrator. He was actively trying to help his dad as much as possible by reading case files from his father’s previous cases, but over time however he realized, “All of the cases that my father judged were nearly as small, as ridiculous, as petty.” (Erdrich, 48) When he realizes that his father has never handled a case like this, he is enraged. This also motivates to take justice in his own hands and start his own small investigation at the Round House, “I had

“Lark walked forward and before he could tap it in I shot at the logo over his heart.” (Erdrich, 282) Joe had felt a sense of relief when Lark had died, he felt as if justice had finally been served. Joe wasn’t the only one who had been relieved about Lark’s death, “I feel relief at Lark’s death, my father said.” (Erdrich, 305) Joe’s family could live in peace now that Linden Lark could no longer hurt Geraldine. Geraldine could finally live her life without fear that Linden would come and finish the job since she lived. “At least he’s dead, Mom. He paid, whatever else. I wanted to add that he did not die easy, that he saw who was killing him. But then I’d have to say it was me.” (Erdrich,