Modoc

Bram Gunterstein, the primary character of the story, is a young man initially who is focused on his elephant completely.  He is spiritually attached to the elephant Modoc, and also spiritually attached to his father and mother, to his first love and later wife, Gertie, and to his second love Sian.  His journey through life is based on his never hurting an animal and learning to bond with them and communicate with them with love and caring.  He experiences spiritual awakening through various encounters with the elephants, and with elephant trainer gurus.   Because of this spirituality he is able to train Modoc to do practically anything and follow his unspoken commands.

 

Mr. North, the owner of the North Circus in the book at first seems to be a stringent and aloof manager.  His harsh personality and drive force him to chase Modoc around the world in order to retrieve his property the elephant.  He seems to have several problems with Jews, poorer employees of the circus, and is a strong personality.  Later when he comes to see the value of Modoc having Bram as her trainer, he is able to overcome these earlier prejudices and believe in Bram being able to train Modoc to do something a circus elephant had never done before.  When Bram succeeds Mr. North accepts him as a member of the circus.

 

Gertie, Bram’s girlfriend who he falls into love with is a loving and caring person that is willing to wait for him even though he later is married to an Indian girl, Sian, for a short period of time.  Gertie seems to be the one person who other than his parents loves and cares about Bram and what the does with the elephant Modoc.  She too had learned about caring for the elephant Modoc alongside Bram.  When he finally returns from India she is willing to marry him and travels all the way from Germany to America to do so.  They then have a long marriage, and she plays a part in his and Modoc’s life from then on.