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This is a place for us to discuss openly and honestly the literature we are reading. Here we are all just communicating our thoughts on what we are reading. There are no right and wrong answers. However, you are expected to be polite, mature, and on topic.
8 comments:
Wesley is described as a tall, broad-shouldered, and pleasant looking town sheriff. He had went to school to be a lawyer, but his father had been sheriff numerous times. His father stepped down and Wesley decided to step up and continue the family tradition. Also, he was not very fond of the Indians.
Frank is described as athletic, "handsome- dark, wavy hair, a jaw chiseled on such precise angles it seemed to conform to some geometric law" (page 26), and one of the town doctors. He is a genuine war hero, as well.
I believe that Watson spends the proper amount of time on the comparison of the details of the brothers due to what starts to unravel. It made me understand why Wesley could not believe what he was hearing. Frank and Wesley were extremely close. Wesley thought he knew his brother. It made it harder to believe and arrest him.
Jessalynn Jarrell
The Hayden brothers are alike in the fact that they both hold authoritative positoins in their town. They are put off as very trusted head figures in this town, but that notion is about to be blurred. Frank has a shady past with the tribal people. Frank is accused of "doing things to them"(page 24). I agree with Jessalynn that accusation makes Wesley's job hard because he does not no whether or not to arrest his own brother on the rape charges or trust that he did not do anything of that sort. During the festival that they were having, the brothers grandfather announced that "his son" had a speech to make(page 26). He did not say which son had the speech and what other son to make the speech than the sheriff. That is not what occured though. Frank, the town doctor, was going to mske the speech. This could be looked at as favoritism because of the fact that Frank was a war hero. This is another reason it makes the accusation of rape seems preposterous. This is where the conflict comes in.
Tyler Trahan
I agree with Jessalyn that the Hayden brothers are alike in their physical features and that they hold authoritative positions. They were both "...tall, broad-shouldered, and pleasant looking."(page 36). Wesley had the position of sheriff practically passed down to him while Frank was a "...genuine war hero..."(page 36) and one of the towns doctors. But what they did with those positions differs. Frank used his position as a doctor to mistreat his female patients, especially the Indian patients, during their appointments . Wesley, being the sheriff he knew he had to be, was lead to investigate his own brother and further on arrest him for these crimes. By describing these two brothers, Watson is showing how brothers, while being similar in their physique and authoritativeness, chose to lead different lives and dilemmas.
Travis Stennett
This is a post from Michelle Carver.
I agree with Travis, Jessalyn, and Tyler on the fact that they are both similar in appearance( as stated on page 36) Another similarity is that both grew up in the same environment(family life, school, ect.) The similarites I believe help make the differences all the more apparent in nature. The main root however is in their major life choices and the pressures that came with it. Take Welsey for instance. He choose a simple life of the town sheriff after being pressured by his father to give up his law practice and follow the path he took instead. His father, as well as other important figures in the town, pay no attention to him for his life never glittered to amaze the town as his brother's did (page 25). Frank however did the exact opposite and choose a life outside the "norm" for the town. He becomes a war hero and a successful doctor- pleasing and exciting the townspeople but with it the pressures that come with fame and the idea that everyone thought he was perfect when in reality he was far from it(pg. 26 and 27). I believe the reasons why Watson portrays the two brothers is not to determine whether or not it would effect the outcome of the arrest or the charges, but rather the outline of how sometimes its better to live a normal life (Welsey) than to live one full of excitement (Frank) because eventually the fame wears down on a person and they eventually believe that they must always be this way (perfect,without flaws), becoming unable to take even the softest blow on their ego. When you live a normal life, however it is expected of a "normal" person to make a mistake somewhere along the way; making the accusation not so severe as it with Frank when he was accused of rape; if he were living a normal life it would not have been so shocking- Michelle E. Carver
Frank is the elder brother who is heavily admired by both the townspeople and his(and Wesley's) father due to his charm and reputation as a war hero, star athlete, and doctor. He is described as handsome with, "dark, wavy hair, a jaw chiseled on such precise angles it seemed to conform to some sort of geometric law, and he was as tall and well-built as my father, but with the athletic grace my father lacked" (Page 24). The author's description makes him seem ideal and even godlike. Wesley on the other hand, is still respected by the public, yet not idolized like his brother. He lives a more modest life, despite the fact that he is the town's sheriff. He knows no one is above the law and wants to serve justice where it needs to be served. When Wesley hears about Frank, at first he does not want to believe what he hears. He starts to leave after Gail's accusation. Then, when he stays and Gail continues, he says,"And you believe her"(page 34). Further in the conversation he tries to defend Frank when he says, "I didn't say she was lying. Maybe she's simply got it wrong..."(page 34). But Wesley realizes he must do something about this accusation, showing he is responsible. The brothers are alike in that they both are respected by the townspeople and have high status and positions. They also share some physical resemblance as they are both tall and well-built. I think Watson focuses on the similarities and differences between the brothers because he wants to show readers that they are very different yet, in some ways, very much the same. I also think Watson does this to build suspense and set up for the rest of the story.
In Montana 1948 the narrator describes the brothers very precisely. Giving the reader the feeling of emotions and an almost real image of the characters. Davy, the narrator, tells us that Wesley was in college to become a lawyer. When his father retired as sheriff Wesley stepped up to become sheriff ( which his wife was not found about)(page 14). The reader can get the feeling that Wesley is more of a follower, always wanting to please his father and make him happy. Frank is more outgoing and accomplished in his life. Being a "star athlete in high school and college, war hero with decorations and commendations, and a Doctor" Frank gives the reader an image of him being his fathers and everybody's favorite Hayden brother(page 25-26). I agree with Jessalynn about the narrator comparing the two brothers so much to help further more explain and help the reader realize the issue or problem that happens later in the novel. The narrator makes the reader feel like the Hayden brothers know each other very well, but in reality as the story goes on the reader figures out they do not.
Jenna Anderson
Jacki McDunnah^
Wesley and Frank Hayden look very much alike. They are both tall, broad impressive looking men. They also both have respectable professions being the sheriff and a doctor. I think there's also some sort of competitiveness the two share for their father's approval. An example of this is when the narrator has a flashback to the picnic and his grandfather praising "his son", Frank, and the narrator's father, Wesley, leaves dejectedly (page 26). Frank, however, has always been viewed as the greater man. He is more handsome, athletic, charming and interesting than his brother. Wesley seems "inevitably, inescapably dull" in comparison (page 25).
Watson focuses on these similarities and differences for one reason to paint a picture of how people aren't always what they seem. Frank comes off as this wonderful man but he abuses his profession of a doctor to sexually harass young women (page 41). Wesley has never had to use is position as sheriff in any exciting way, and he seems to be fine with it (pages 5-7). When he finds that his brother is raping women he has to take on that role of authority to take down his brother despite being uncomfortable with it. Watson also focuses on the details of the brothers because they're essentially the two sides of the conflict. Frank is committing serious crimes and his own brother has to incriminate him. I disagree with Jessalynn when she says the brothers were extremely close and that's why it is so hard for him. Throughout part one of the book the narrator describes incidents where the brothers bang heads, such as about the fence (page 27) and the beer (page 28). The narrator does state that Wesley knew Frank well (page 43), but he never suggests that he was close to his brother or even that he loves him.
Holly McKenzie
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