Just by one fault by the closest man in his life, Wes realizes he has changed in better ways as things have gotten more complicated: “ My father stood for moral absolution ” (144). Thinking how Wes was in the beginning of the summer in 1948, he finally grasps the understanding what is right and wrong. Throughout the summer of Montana in 1948, Wes starts off as reserved and resistant towards his job as sheriff and doesn’t think about the real issues with his brother. Wes’s job is like a role model for people who want to stand up for what they believe in and Wes started out doing the exact opposite of that. After seeing Uncle Frank not deal with his situation, Wes grasps the concept of control and leadership towards the state of affair.
They were respected so much by their community that if someone from their family did a simple crime, their reputation would be ruined. They had full power of their people especially the Indians. Frank molested and raped the Indian women because of the power he had against them, which made him see himself as a superior and take advantage of others. Julian, being the head of his family, he feels that he has power to decide what justice is and what is not. He does not hesitate in choosing between justice and his favorite son, he gets really mad when Wes put Frank to justice for his crimes and uses his power to free him.
As we know, Wes Hayden is one of the main characters in the story Montana 1948. By making very big decisions, he undergoes a big character change throughout the story. Wes Hayden, having grown up as the “Other Son” in his father’s eyes, has developed a good and rightful sense of justice through a bad example, his father Julian. Although he is said to be inexperienced, Wes has developed this sense of right judgment through the learning experience of life and his daily job. He is a victim of favoritism, and because of never being the one with the attention he has learned not to be like his bad father and his brother by teaching himself what is right in others eyes, not the eyes of his dad.
Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 features Wesley as one of the main characters. Wesley’s father has strong control over Wesley’s job and what he does with his life. Over the course of the book Wesley gains independence from his dad and realizes that he can’t continue living like this. This idea made an impact on me because I wouldn’t expect an adult to have problems with autonomy and his father. All of Wesley’s life, his father Julian, who was the sheriff of Bentrock has controlled Wesley.
People did what he told them to do. He wielded such power that his relationships with people were built on fear rather than mutual trust and respect. He was the head of the Hayden dynasty and was not challenged until Wes arrested Frank. His two sons did what he wanted them to do, and it was obvious from the start that he favoured Frank. Wes did not feel badly about this and went on doing his job – the job his father had handpicked for him.
Amir is the character that is extremely similar to his father Buba, because they both have committed sins in their past. Amir by, watching Hassan his own half-brother get raped or Buba, having sex with his servant’s wife. In the beginning of the book Amir is a person who won’t stand up for himself let alone for any of his friends. Amir is a very selfish and un-loyal person to Hassan, whereas Hassan is a very loyal and selfless person. Although it all changes when Amir and Buba moves to America some of sins from the past still continue to haunt the future.
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.
It was the ultimate act of friendship and sacrifice, on George's part, to kill Lennie. He knew that Lennie would be lynched and hung for murdering Curley's wife. He also knew that Lennie didn't know any better, he had no idea the power of his own strength, he did not fully know the ramifications of what he had done, but he did know that it was bad and that he might get into trouble. George basically spared Lennie from a death filled with pain and suffering and Lennie almost had this moment of clarity when he knows what George has to do and he's ok with it. 3.
The opportunity to beat fate was too good to pass up. It did not help that his wife felt the same way as well. She facilitated the murder and assured her husband that it was what needed to be done. After Macbeth killed the king, he found himself no longer a true and loyal soldier, on the inside that is. He made sure to put on a façade which would lead the King’s men to believe he was still a respectful and loyal man.
Journal: “Montana 1948” Larry Watson In “Montana 1948”, Larry Watson tells the story of a small-town sheriff grapples with the conflict between his job and his loyalty to a powerful family member. And the son of the sheriff, David Hayden, a 12-year-old boy, narrates his life which he and his parents live in the summer of 1948 and a life-changing event which happen to him in this summer. During reading the Chapter One, my emotion keeps changing. At the beginning, I become increasingly fascinated by the cozy life in Bentrock. Watson uses parallelism to describe what the little David`s life looks like.