Montana 1948 Essay

1036 Words5 Pages
Montana 1948 traces David Hayden’s journey from innocence to an awareness of the existence of evil. The novel Montana 1948 traces David Hayden’s journey from innocence to the awareness of existence of evil. As David became aware of his uncle’s actions he became aware of evil in his life. Montana 1948 portrays evil as the abuse of power and racism within the Hayden family. David Hayden was an innocent and happy young boy living in Montana in the year 1948. However, as the novel developed he began to lose some of his innocence as he became aware of his beloved uncle’s unforgivable crimes. Although David became aware of the existence of evil, he still retained some of his childhood innocence. The events of 1948 changed David’s life permanently as he became aware of the abuse of power and racism within his family. In early summer 1948 David Hayden was an innocent 12 year old child. David had a stable, happy life with a tight and loving family. He simply enjoyed being a young boy; he loved the wildness of nature where he was at his happiest. “Out of town I could simply be, I could feel my self” (p.24). David loved to be on his grandfather’s ranch where he could be with his horse, Nutty. Here, David loved to explore and hunt. “My friends and I killed more beer cans, soda bottles, road signs, and telephone insulators than rabbits, squirrels, grouse, or pheasants we said we were hunting.” (p.23). David loved living as a young child in Montana. His mother, Gail, protected him the best she could. David even had a baby sitter to look after him, Marie Little Soldier. However, David as a child simply thought she was the housekeeper. As an innocent 12 year old David thought “she was sexy” (p.26). David also looked up to his uncle, Frank, as an athlete, handsome and a genuine war hero. David lived a happy life, however, he was about to become aware of the existence of evil in
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