Frenchie Character Analysis in The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

The Marrow Thieves, written by Cherie Dimaline, is about the First Nations/Metis and Inuit people who were hunted and mined for their bone marrow by the Canadian government. This book contains a number of different moments in a short amount of time. Moments such as moments with Rose,his father and himself and overall how the character developed. In that brief period of time,Cherie developed the  main character physically mentaly and overall as a son of two fathers. Since Frenchie is the main character, his changes have an effect on the reader, as well as other characters in the book with whom he was close, and his change was the most important. As the plot progresses, so does Frenchie's love life. When the mood/atmosphere shifted and the community ran into a crisis, other individuals/characters made a difference by changing as well. The following examples would show how the author made use of her characters to demonstrate how they grew and evolved over time. 

One way that Frenchie grows as a character is through his ability to protect others. At the beginning of the novel, Mitch (Frenchie’s older brother and only family) took care of him. He fed him whatever he could find, such as a bag of doritos. He also was willing to sacrifice himself when the recruiters showed up.This showed that Frenchie´s brother was willing to sacrifice himself for him. At the start of this novel, Frenchie is childish,immature and can´t take care of himself. Furthermore, at the end of chapter one, Frenchie needed rescuing. After his brother had been taken away, The starting of the novel proved that Frenchie was weak and in a bad place to be taking care of himself when there was no one there for him.Miig saved his life by taking Frenchie into his own group. Miig took Frenchie when he couldn't help himself and wasn’t able to do much for himself in order to survive. When Miig saved him Frenchie lived with Miig’s group he grew and developed his ability to take care of himself and others. This showed itself when Frenchie did a very dangerous thing: touching an electric fence. Frenchie touched the fence because he thought Miig was more important and that he was helping the group. Frenchie thought about others and almost killed himself for others because he felt the need to try to protect them. 

As the group stuck together. They grew a bond like a family. The eldest of the group ,Minerva sacrificed herself for her family by letting the recruiters find her and take her away. Frenchie was very sad/devastated but when he found out she is still alive and where she is. Frenchie made a plan with the group to save his grandma. The plan was very precise and to the point. As they tried to save her. A recruiter ended up shooting her in her chest .Minerva dying and getting kidnapped had a large effect on Frenchie and Frenchie changed. Braids, Frenchie always talked about how he is proud of his braids ¨His braids aren't even as long as mine¨ (351-352). Frenchie cut his braids when his foster grandma died.

Frenchie also was more in charge because the eldest was gone. These examples demonstrate how French evolved from someone who needed saving into someone willing to risk his own life in order to save others. 

Another way of looking at how Frenchie matures as a person is through his relationship with Rose.First of all, at the end of chapter 3, when Rose was added to the story, all Frenchie could think about was how attractive she was. The novel says that Frenchie only had one thought in his head: “Please don’t let her be my cousin please”(71-72). This is significant because it shows Frenchie’s immaturity. Here, a new and possibly dangerous person has appeared in his camp and, yet, all he can think about is how attractive she is. 

Furthermore, Frenchie also made fun of Rose when she had to stay at camp with Minerva. When Frenchie finds out that Rose can’t come hunting with him, he even feels bad for her but still made fun of her. ¨

This also shows his immaturity as he, unlike Rose, doesn’t value the wisdom of his elders and is willing to make fun of the people that do. Later When going to The Four Winds. Frenchie and Rose had their first few interactions between just the two of them. The Four Winds was an abandoned resort where the group got some rest. While the group walked Rose held Frenchie’s hand for a bit.  At this point Rose made somewhat of a move towards Frenchie. Rose was showing how she felt about Frenchie in a defined way.

When the group finally reached their destination. Everyone got rooms and settled in for a few days.The first night there, Rose went to Frenchie’s room at night without an invitation. Rose and Frenchie were going to have sex, Until the youngest of the group (Riri)  interrupted them. Frenchie’s relationship had ups and downs. Just like any other relationship.But mostly because of the awkwardness Rose and Frenchie felt after the night at the Four Winds . This proved how Frenchie wasn't able to express his feelings or even talk about them with her yet...

As time went on in the book Frenchie and Rose talked their feelings through with each other (pg.22-26). The two teenagers begin to understand each other and Frenchie becomes a better man by understanding his and Rose´s needs.

In conclusion, these examples show how Frenchie seems to want to become a better man when he’s with Rose and has a special place in his heart for her.

Frenchie started to show jealousy towards a boy named Derrick. ¨The jealousy turend to full-blowen murder¨… (371-372).Derrick was from  Frenchie´s Fathers group. Even before Derrick met Rose Frenchie started comparing his and Derrick´s braids. ¨His braids aren't even as long as mine¨ (351-352).Derrick and Rose had a dance and after that social night.Frenchie started being rude and etc.. Frenchie was taking all of his frustration on Rose. When Rose was trying to help him. When Frenchie had lots on his mind such as the plan to save Minerva,his father or group and Derrick. He threw his anger on Rose which made Rose want to leave the group and go live in the bush. But Frenchie’s father explained to him how he missed his wife. Frenchie went back for her.Sometimes his words and actions became immature and his judgment would be  clouded with jealousy. He seems to want to become a better man when he’s with Rose and has a special place in his heart for her.  The following examples explained how Frenchie has developed his relationship skills and how he is mentally stable again. Frenchie- ¨She made me feel like I needed to be a better person just through her existing ¨ (pg.73)

By the end of the novel, Frenchie is mature enough that he wants to commit himself to a relationship with Rose. After Frenchie’s father explained to him how he missed his wife, Frenchie realized how much he wanted to be with Rose and went chasing after her, even if that meant he’d have to say goodbye to the rest of his family. This demonstrates that Frenchie has the ability to to make mature and life changing decisions, which the Frenchie from chapter one could never have made.  

Frenchie was away from his family for a long time. In the starting of the book the author states that Frenchie’s mother and father were taken by the recruiters and Mitch was the only biological family he had left.In chapter 1 Mitch sacrificed himself for Frenchie.  Frenchie got out of the treehouse they were sitting in and a few days later he found the group. Which also felt like family to Frenchie. When staying with the group Frenchie made bonds and connections with everyone there. No matter the age everyone in the group was nice /caring of each other. Frenchie didn’t pay attention to that. And how close he had become to his group/family and tried to focus on finding his lost dad. Frenchie had also made a special connection with the youngest in the group (Riri). Riri saw Frenchie as her older brother. Frenchie cared for Riri but he found out how much he really cared for her after she died a tragic death. Frenchie’s love for Riri drove him to kill a man. Just a few chapters ago he couldn’t kill a moose and a few chapters after he killed a man. The real connection Frenchie loved his group and had been through so much and still after finding his father he had a connection with his group that he couldn’t let go of. When frenchie finally found his father and where he was. Frenchie felt happy but also stressed with the decision he would have to make later on in the book. When frenchie finally found his father and where he was. Frenchie felt happy but also stressed with the decision he would have to make later on in the book. Frenchie had bonded over time with his group. Frenchie didn’t have less love for his father. He just felt like he needed to be with his group because he was a leader and he had been through so much with them. training from Miig, and loss of RiRi and Minerva, he became stronger and more skillful.   

There were a few examples/moments that demonstrated how the author used a number of characters to show how the main character, Frenchie, develops as a character,brother,boyfriend and son. Several characters, including Frenchie, underwent character development and it shaped our outlook on the story as readers. The relationship between Frenchie and Rose seemed to be coming to an end, but Frenchie's character growth saved the day.Frenchie made a decision that made the reader believe that he did something we all would have done as well. The Marrow Thieves is an excellent example of how people adapt over time. The main characters, such as Frenchie, Miig, and Rose, experienced the most transition.