Louis, a Trumpeter Swan, is the main character of the novel. He was born with an inability to make sounds, which becomes a major issue as he grows into adolescence and looks for a mate. As a young cygnet, he makes friends with young Sam Beaver, who becomes a lifelong friend and confidante. Though Louis cannot speak, he is a strong swimmer and flier, and he is well liked by his siblings and the other water birds. He is headstrong and independent, deciding on his own to learn to read and write. After his father acquires a trumpet for him, Louis seeks Sam’s help and advice, and eventually sets off on his own to earn money to pay his father’s debt. 

Louis is intelligent, responsible, diligent, and able to socialize in the mixed company of swans and humans. Though he is pragmatic and focused in his approach to work, he also finds true enjoyment in music and performing for audiences. In pursuing his ambitions, he is willing to risk disfigurement to improve his professional opportunities, and works hard at improving his craft and repertoire. By the end of the novel, he has overcome his original disability, attained professional success, found a wife, and become a father.