61 pages • 2 hours read
William Kent KruegerIron Lake
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Windigo
The Windigo is a motif that is threaded throughout the novel to parallel Cork’s increasing disconnection from his friends and family. The Windigo also highlights the presence of Anishinaabe traditions in the community. It is introduced in the Prologue, when Sam Winter Moon explains the mythical monster to 14-year-old Cork. Sam describes the Windigo as “a giant, an ogre with a heart of ice. A cannibal, a cold and hungry thing. It comes out of the woods to eat the flesh of men and women. Children, too. It doesn’t care” (6). Further, Sam tells Cork how to kill the Windigo: “You got to become a Windigo, too. […] But you got to be careful, because even if you kill the Windigo, you’re still in danger […] of staying a Windigo forever. Of being the ogre you killed’” (6). As the story continues, the metaphorical significance of the Windigo to Cork becomes clear; one of the journeys that Cork takes over the course of the novel involves his loss of faith in humanity, and his descent into a need for revenge after Sandy kills Molly.
At the beginning of the novel, Cork hears the Windigo call his name—30 years after the story by the campfire. The experience is a warning; Cork has the potential to transform into an avatar of the creature. Henry cautions him, saying, “The Windigo was a man once. His heart was not always ice. What makes a man’s heart turn to ice? I would think about that, and I would think about how to fight the Windigo” (222). Cork slowly changes: He becomes willing to commit murder and shelter those who have killed. After Molly dies, Cork faces down Sandy’s car and almost becomes the Windigo: “He felt only a depthless, pitiless cold that froze his heart. […] Welling up from a dark place inside him he’d never known rose a cry he didn’t recognize or understand, the howl of a hungry beast. He stood with the knife in his hand, howling beneath the moon as the Cherokee bore down on him” (431). Henry brings Cork back from the brink when he sings Sandy’s spirit onto the Path of Souls, displaying his respect for all life and reminding Cork of his humanity.
“Not the Sheriff Anymore”
Throughout the novel, many characters echo the refrain that Cork no longer holds elected office. At the beginning of the novel, Cork reminds Molly, “I’m not the sheriff anymore” (17), a sentiment Russell Blackwater echoes later when he says, more bluntly, “You’re not the fucking law anymore” (78). However, throughout the story, Cork continues to act unofficially as sheriff, investigating crimes and protecting residents. Many people in the area still look to him as an authority figure. When Paul LeBeau disappears, Darla instinctively calls Cork—a reflection of the community’s assessment of his character and the trust the community has in him. “Sheriff” is part of Cork’s identity.
The law enforcement community also still recognizes Cork’s authority, giving him access and insight that he should no longer be privy to. The current sheriff, Wally Schanno, consults with Cork throughout the investigation, and even Sigurd begrudgingly gives Cork access to the judge’s body despite acknowledging, “You’re not even the sheriff anymore” (110).
This liminal position is useful for Cork’s investigation. Anishinaabe people are willing to confide in him specifically because he isn’t sheriff; as Tom tells Cork, “You’re not the sheriff anymore. That’s one reason we’ve all decided to trust you” (35). Cork also uses the fact to his advantage when he is gaining Darla’s trust, saying, “I’m not a cop anymore, so nothing I’m told is official” (156). Even Wally believes that Wanda will talk to Cork now that he “[doesn’t] wear a badge anymore” (156). The Anishinaabe community’s distrust of local law enforcement inhibits Wally’s investigation, but Cork can play detective because he is technically an outsider. In the end, it is because Cork isn’t the sheriff anymore that he is able to solve the mystery.
The Geese (Romeo & Juliet)
Each day, no matter what else is going on, Cork takes the time to spread corn on the ground near the lakeshore for the geese who paddle in the open water: “They never left the lake. The open water kept them there. [He] had taken to feeding them when he’d realized their plight. Anne had adopted them as well, taken them into her heart of concern” (35). His interactions with the geese show that the care and protection of the vulnerable are fundamental to his character. This echoes the care with which Cork approaches his community, investigating crimes even though he is no longer sheriff, and even placing himself in danger.
The geese are a symbol of Cork’s relationships with his children. When his daughter Anne sees that Romeo, the male, has injured his wing, and that Juliet, his mate, refuses to migrate with the other geese, feeding them becomes a ritual for Cork and Anne. Later, Cork introduces Jenny to the feeding ritual. Cork uses these moments to reconnect with his daughters amid the turmoil their family is going through. They talk about big topics like faith, family, and relationships.
The geese also symbolize unconditional love and sacrifice. Juliet risks her life to winter in the area for Romeo. This act of self-sacrifice represents the way Cork feels about his own family and what he’d be willing to do for them. It also foreshadows his love for Molly and how, upon her death, he is willing to sacrifice his moral code to avenge her murder.
Finally, the geese are emblematic of Cork’s ties to the community. They disappear at a time when Cork is at his lowest and feels completely disconnected from humanity: “He stood a moment, looking across the choppy, gray water. There’d been something welcoming about it when the geese were there. Now the open water seemed only menacing” (25). At the end of the novel, when Henry has helped Cork regain his own humanity, Cork notes that the geese are back.
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