Character Analysis: Montana 1948

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Where Loyalty Lies "From the summer of my twelfth year I carry a series of images more vivid and lasting then any others of my boyhood and indelible beyond all attempts the years make to erase or fade them..." (Watson 11). The novel Montana 1948, by Larry Watson, follows the events that take place in the summer of 1948, and is seen through the eyes of a twelve year old boy. The boy, David, wasn't truly able to grasp what had taken place that summer, but he did see how the murder of Marie affected the ethics of his family and his town. The characters in the novel face many trials that ultimately test their loyalty. It painted a clear picture for him of who was loyal and who betrayed. The most loyal character in the story was David Hayden.…show more content…
When Gail first finds out what Frank had done to Marie and the other Native American girls, she tells Wes trusting in him to bring Frank to justice. This is very hard for Wes to do because Frank is his brother, but it causes a strain in Frank and Gail's marriage, but they pull through. Gail wasn’t happy with Wes's decision to keep Frank in their basement; she understood how hard the situation with Frank was on Wes, that she decided to support him. When the four men went to her house to break Frank out she was there to stop them, even though she did not agree with keeping him in her house. Another way she was loyal to Wes was her relationship with Len. He may have been in love with her, but she did not act on it. She knew she was married to Wes and loved…show more content…
The death of Marie and Frank brings out the other character's ethics and shows where their loyalties lie. David sees his family in a knew light, he now veiws his father as the one loyal and just, and his Grandfather for the animal that he is. David was finally able to see through all secrets, lies, and betrayals, to the truth. "I wondered again howit could have happened-how it could be that those two people who only wanted to be loyal to both family and justice, were now dispossessed, the ones forced to leave bentrock and build new lives." (Watson

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