King Howard Kashpaw, Jr. / Howard Character Analysis in Love Medicine

King and Lynette’s son. Howard is a young boy, somewhere around kindergarten age, and he is completely traumatized by his abusive father. Howard hides in the bathroom, listening to his parents fight, and prays for the police to come arrest his father. Howard insists on being called by his middle name, not King or Junior, as a way of distancing himself from his father.

King Howard Kashpaw, Jr. / Howard Character Timeline in Love Medicine

The timeline below shows where the character King Howard Kashpaw, Jr. / Howard appears in Love Medicine. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Native Culture, Assimilation, and Racism Theme Icon

Female Oppression and Strength Theme Icon

...Firebird pulls up outside. It is June’s son, King; his wife, Lynette; and their son King, Jr . Both Marie and Nector are also crammed into the car’s tiny backseat, along with... (full context)

...watches her grandfather discover his childhood home again for the first time, she thinks about King, Jr ., who is happy because he doesn’t yet have a memory, while Grandpa Nector is... (full context)

Tribal Connection and Family Ties Theme Icon

...which is a “dark violet bruised color,” and goes in the house to check on King, Jr . Moments later, Gordie Kashpaw pulls in the driveway in his old truck with Eli... (full context)

Howard Kashpaw hides in the bathroom as his parents fight. His father, King, says something about... (full context)

Howard is smarter than the other kids at school, and he learned to read early by... (full context)

Hiding in the bathroom, Howard wonders if the police will come and get King again. It has happened before; the... (full context)

...and paintings hang from the walls. There is even a velvet rug. Lipsha looks to King, Jr . and says hello. The child doesn’t respond. (full context)

Howard runs to the door to open it, screaming, “King’s here! King’s here!” In the commotion,... (full context)