Montana 1948 is an intriguing novel written by Larry Watson. Montana 1948 is a novel based on a 12 year old boy named David Hayden; whose story is being told in 1st person perspective. He is an adult, however he tells the story as he saw it from when he was 12 years old. The story is written as though David Hayden is recounting back on his past, to where he lived in a small town named Bentrock, in Mercer County, Montana.
David Hayden was born in the town of Bentrock; a small, rugged town in Mercer County, Montana. The county was very rural and consisted of a section of the Fort Warren Indian Reservation. David was 12 years old during the summer of 1948, where he and his parents lived in a large white house opposite to the courthouse; where his mother, Gail, pursued her career at. Wesley Hayden, David’s father served as the town Sheriff of Mercer County, taking on the role of being a Hayden and obtaining his Father, Julian's job. David was cared for by Marie Little Soldier, a Sioux housekeeper who began to grow sick from the disease pneumonia and refused to see a doctor. David and Marie shared a very special bond in which Marie was considered to be part of the family. David’s Uncle Frank, the town Doctor came to Marie. However when Marie began to refuse his help, David’s father was made to investigate and research some peculiar allegations. Marie’s fear of Frank opened the door into the true character of the doctor, David’s uncle and Wesley’s brother.
Question: How does prejudice play into the story?
Wesley takes his family into consideration when it came to how Frank was going to be punished, and realizes Frank’s privilege within the community has sheltered him from the crimes he has made. David’s mother begins to grow weak and cannot be part of the grief that Frank had put on the family, also scared for David’s safety and well-being with Frank around. Gail's attitude changes from the start as she desperately wanted Frank to be locked up and punished for his actions. Whereas by the end of the novel, her attitude changed and she no longer wanted Wesley to take action on the crime that she earlier encouraged him to follow.
Question: Late in the novel, Gail Hayden changes her attitude. She no longer wants her husband to continue the course of action that earlier she encouraged him to follow. What causes her to change?
Wesley hoped that everything would be forgotten and will go back to how it used to be, without having to start warfare throughout the family and town. This could have been the last of the conflict; however Frank’s sin of murdering Marie Little Soldier created an emotionally draining encounter for the Hayden family. David having seen Frank leave their home at the time of the murder, knows that his uncle was guilty. His conscience forcing him to tell his father, who now had to deal with the reality of his own brothers actions.
Despite Wesley’s efforts to live up to his father’s expectations, Julian favors his other son, Frank. Fran was an athletic man who served in the military, and became a war hero. Franks authority over the Indian community allowed him to molest many of the young women at the reservation, and get away with it. During the time of Marie fearing for her life with Frank around, Marie Little Soldier blurts out the horrible stories and allegations Frank has committed to Gail. Wesley as town sheriff, is forced to consider the ramifications of Frank’s actions and has to determine what legal measures should be taken, on his own brother.
Questions: Wesley did not want to have to publicly arrest Frank for his actions, nor send him to the local jail. What are some of the reasoning's behind this?
Trying to save his family from shame, and protecting the ‘Hayden’s’ power, Wesley turns his basement into a jail cell for Frank. However this turned his Grandfather Julian haywire, where he begins sending hired hands to the Hayden house to try and free him. Wesley makes arrangements to take Frank away from Bentrock and surrender him to another cell away from the house, where his family can begin to feel safe again and rid of the emotional damage Frank had caused throughout the family, due to his inconsiderate actions. With Frank aware of his future, he commits suicide.
Question: What motivates Frank Hayden’s final act? (It has been characterized as both a selfish and a selfless act.)
David’s family becomes outcasts throughout the town and within the rest of the Hayden family. With no intentions of carrying on their life in Montana, they move away where they are able to redefine themselves and start again.
Question: What would the outcome of the story have been if David’s father publicly arrested his uncle? Would things have turned out better? Worse? Would you have done the same thing as Wesley if it was your family?
The events of the small town during summer in 1948 alter David’s views on his family, his emotionally damaged Father Wesley, his once respected war hero Uncle Frank; who turned selfish and impertinent, his power abusing Grandfather Julian, his innocent Sioux housekeeper Marie, his strong willed Mother Gail and Montana as a whole. This novel consists of love, courage, abused power and a heart breaking decision to be made between family, loyalty and justice.
Question: Most of the novel’s action takes place in 1948. Why did the author choose that year? Could the events occur today?
David Hayden was born in the town of Bentrock; a small, rugged town in Mercer County, Montana. The county was very rural and consisted of a section of the Fort Warren Indian Reservation. David was 12 years old during the summer of 1948, where he and his parents lived in a large white house opposite to the courthouse; where his mother, Gail, pursued her career at. Wesley Hayden, David’s father served as the town Sheriff of Mercer County, taking on the role of being a Hayden and obtaining his Father, Julian's job. David was cared for by Marie Little Soldier, a Sioux housekeeper who began to grow sick from the disease pneumonia and refused to see a doctor. David and Marie shared a very special bond in which Marie was considered to be part of the family. David’s Uncle Frank, the town Doctor came to Marie. However when Marie began to refuse his help, David’s father was made to investigate and research some peculiar allegations. Marie’s fear of Frank opened the door into the true character of the doctor, David’s uncle and Wesley’s brother.
Question: How does prejudice play into the story?
Wesley takes his family into consideration when it came to how Frank was going to be punished, and realizes Frank’s privilege within the community has sheltered him from the crimes he has made. David’s mother begins to grow weak and cannot be part of the grief that Frank had put on the family, also scared for David’s safety and well-being with Frank around. Gail's attitude changes from the start as she desperately wanted Frank to be locked up and punished for his actions. Whereas by the end of the novel, her attitude changed and she no longer wanted Wesley to take action on the crime that she earlier encouraged him to follow.
Question: Late in the novel, Gail Hayden changes her attitude. She no longer wants her husband to continue the course of action that earlier she encouraged him to follow. What causes her to change?
Wesley hoped that everything would be forgotten and will go back to how it used to be, without having to start warfare throughout the family and town. This could have been the last of the conflict; however Frank’s sin of murdering Marie Little Soldier created an emotionally draining encounter for the Hayden family. David having seen Frank leave their home at the time of the murder, knows that his uncle was guilty. His conscience forcing him to tell his father, who now had to deal with the reality of his own brothers actions.
Despite Wesley’s efforts to live up to his father’s expectations, Julian favors his other son, Frank. Fran was an athletic man who served in the military, and became a war hero. Franks authority over the Indian community allowed him to molest many of the young women at the reservation, and get away with it. During the time of Marie fearing for her life with Frank around, Marie Little Soldier blurts out the horrible stories and allegations Frank has committed to Gail. Wesley as town sheriff, is forced to consider the ramifications of Frank’s actions and has to determine what legal measures should be taken, on his own brother.
Questions: Wesley did not want to have to publicly arrest Frank for his actions, nor send him to the local jail. What are some of the reasoning's behind this?
Trying to save his family from shame, and protecting the ‘Hayden’s’ power, Wesley turns his basement into a jail cell for Frank. However this turned his Grandfather Julian haywire, where he begins sending hired hands to the Hayden house to try and free him. Wesley makes arrangements to take Frank away from Bentrock and surrender him to another cell away from the house, where his family can begin to feel safe again and rid of the emotional damage Frank had caused throughout the family, due to his inconsiderate actions. With Frank aware of his future, he commits suicide.
Question: What motivates Frank Hayden’s final act? (It has been characterized as both a selfish and a selfless act.)
David’s family becomes outcasts throughout the town and within the rest of the Hayden family. With no intentions of carrying on their life in Montana, they move away where they are able to redefine themselves and start again.
Question: What would the outcome of the story have been if David’s father publicly arrested his uncle? Would things have turned out better? Worse? Would you have done the same thing as Wesley if it was your family?
The events of the small town during summer in 1948 alter David’s views on his family, his emotionally damaged Father Wesley, his once respected war hero Uncle Frank; who turned selfish and impertinent, his power abusing Grandfather Julian, his innocent Sioux housekeeper Marie, his strong willed Mother Gail and Montana as a whole. This novel consists of love, courage, abused power and a heart breaking decision to be made between family, loyalty and justice.
Question: Most of the novel’s action takes place in 1948. Why did the author choose that year? Could the events occur today?