The Winged Watchman

Joris is a 10-year-old boy and one of the protagonists. Although he is essentially peaceful, his innate compassion compels him to stand up for justice. He immediately demonstrates this when he fights to protect a puppy from abuse. He launches himself directly at the boys who are tormenting the puppy, not caring that the odds are against him. Propelled by righteous anger, he not only wins the battle but also escapes with the puppy. His genuine compassion also extends to strangers, and when he and his brother, Dirk Jan, find the young Reina injured and unconscious on the road, they spring into action to help her. Similarly, as they later watch British pilots parachute to the ground, Joris regrets not being able to do something to help them right then and there. Joris later acts on his instincts to save people when he helps rescue and hide one of the pilots.

As time goes on, Joris learns and applies important lessons from adults, specifically his parents. When he enters the windmill known as the Giant for the first time and hears a sound above, he is frightened but takes courage from Father’s past advice to “face difficulties” in order to “conquer them.