The Trumpet of the Swan

Sam Beaver is a friend of the cob and swan, and later, a lifelong friend of Louis. He feels most at home in the wilderness, and takes advantage of the opportunity to explore and observe the natural world. Unlike other boys, he is content to watch the swans as opposed to disturbing them. He is independent, curious, thoughtful, intelligent, organized, and a logical thinker. He is also a private person and prefers to keep some secrets—he does not share his knowledge of the swans with anyone, including his father. Like Louis, Sam ponders life and who he will become when he grows up.

When the situation calls for it, Sam is quick to act. For example, he saves the swan from an attacking fox and frees the skunk’s head from a tin at camp. Sam also does his best to problem solve, providing Louis with work advice and helping him get his first job as a bugler at Camp Kooskooskoos. He is very open-minded and does not shy away from arguing for what he believes in, convincing Mrs. Hammerbotham and the Head Man to make exceptions on Louis’s behalf.

The Cob and the Swan are Louis’s parents. They love each other and are deeply committed to their family and their role as parents. The swan is the more practical minded parent, and her advice and opinions tend to be straightforward. She sees situations clearly, gives advice, and points out contradictions in her husband’s thinking or approach to solving problems.  

The cob is the more self-centered parent and sees his children as an extension of his ego. He gives grand speeches and takes time before arriving at a point, which can be trying to others. At the same time, his family loves the cob, and he loves them. Although stealing the trumpet causes him great pain, he has no regrets knowing that he has done this for his son. Though they differ in individual expression, the swan and the cob’s love of each other create a supportive environment for their family.

Serena is Louis’s love and eventual wife. As a young adolescent at Red Rock Lakes, Serena is not impressed by Louis’s attempts to catch her attention, as he had no voice and she “couldn’t really get interested in a bird that was unable to say anything” (73). Louis’s mother is quite annoyed when Serena ignores Louis, but Serena is merely following instinct. However, after Serena falls out of the sky into the Philadelphia Zoo, Louis’s musical abilities enchant her. Wooed by “Beautiful Dreamer,” she finally notices all of the other qualities Louis has developed since leaving home.

Mrs. Hammerbotham and Mr. Brickle are two influential adults that appear in Louis’s life when he is still an adolescent swan. Mrs. Hammerbotham is the cantankerous first grade teacher at Sam’s elementary school who teaches Louis to read and write. She initially resists having Louis in her class, but she is a good teacher who sees the swan’s potential. 

Mr. Brickle, the director of Camp Kookooskoos, supports hiring Louis on as a bugler for the camp. He is predisposed to long speeches, but is also fair-minded and instills values in his campers. He celebrates Louis’s heroics, requesting a medal in recognition of the young swan saving a camper’s life.

The Boatman, Mr. Lucas, and the Head Man in charge of birds are three adults Louis encounters while earning money as a professional musician. All three men are keen to use Louis’s talents and abilities to help their own businesses, but they also aid or advise Louis. 

The supportive Boatman recognizes Louis’s talents and intervenes so that Louis can stay at the Ritz Carlton on his first day in Boston. Self-interested Mr. Lucas doesn’t compromise on his agent’s fee, but also makes sure that Louis understands the Zoo’s policy of pinioning the wings of wild birds. The rule-bound Head Man at first refuses to allow Serena her freedom, but once a deal is struck, the Head Man becomes a friend of Louis and his family.