Montana 1948
Eliza Weekes
Contents
Story overview
Detailed Plot
Description
Setting
Key Characters
Themes
Personal Thoughts
References
Story Overview
David Hayden is a young 12 year old boy who lives in Bentrock,
Montana. In the small town of Mercer County, the Hayden's are a
powerful family, consisting of the local sheriff doctor and a war hero.
Over the summer of 1948 David’s life takes a turning point as he learns
many things about his family and the society he lives in. His Indian
nanny, Marie Little Soldier falls very ill, and refuses to see the local
doctor, David’s uncle. They soon find out that the reason she despises the
local doctor is because he molests his Indian patients. David’s new view
on Frank, his family and the society he lives in becomes confusing but
life changing. He is then forced to mature even more when Marie Little
Soldier dies and his family are under threat as they try to make Frank
pay morally, whilst also protecting him as he is still a part of their
family.
Main Menu
Detailed Plot Description
Prologue
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Epilogue
Main Menu
Prologue
• David recalls three significant images from the summer of 1948
of his father, his mother and Marie Little Soldier. PP 1-12
Detailed Plot
Description
Part One
• David’s dominating grandfather is introduced and his control of
Wes is explained. The mother (Gail) is introduced.
• David shows a liking for the wild as opposed to the orderly
strictures of small town life.
• Marie Little Soldier and her boyfriend, Ronnie Tall Bear, are
introduced.
• Marie has a severe fever, but emphatically refuses a doctor,
particularly Frank, Wes’ brother. Wes and Frank exchange jokes
about medicine men and Wes’ racism is described.
• David describes the differences between the two brothers, the
comparison unfavourable to his father. He relates the
grandfather’s and the county’s homecoming welcome ostensibly
Part One
for all returning veterans “but really for Uncle Frank”.
Continued
Part One Continuation
• David’s image of Frank as hero is shattered when he overhears his
mother tell his father that she has just learnt from the hysterical
Marie about Frank’s consistent molestation and rape of women on
the Indian reservation.
• Gail and Wes consult Daisy and Len McCauley separately to seek
confirmation of Marie’s allegations.
• Wes knows that Frank is guilty, but is grappling with the moral
dilemma of having to act, not only because he knows, but because he
is sheriff.
Detailed Plot
Description
Part Two
• In
the backyard, David nervously queries his mother to give him
entrance into their adult world, as his father pursues his
investigations, interviewing Marie inside.
• During a visit to the grandfather’s ranch for a family dinner, David
overhears his grandfather boast about Frank’s partiality to “red meat”
when he was younger.
• David is tortured by his love for Gloria and his current sense of
shame for her.
• David kills a magpie with his grandfather’s automatic pistol and
makes the connection between his “need to kill something” and his
agitation.
• David comes across an argument between his father and his uncle
Part Two
and speculates as to the consequences of shooting Frank.
Continued
Part Two Continuation
• On the way home, to his wife’s dismay, Wes declares that the
problem has been resolved as Frank has promised to stop.
• August 13: Marie is found dead. David refrains from unburdening
himself of his knowledge to Len McCauley, but senses from his
drunken rambling about how policing is conducted in Montana,
that he too knows that Frank murdered Marie.
• That night David tells his parents that he saw Frank leaving the
house that afternoon and that Len McCauley saw him too. Wes
realises he cannot avoid his duty.
• David’s reverie of the grieving Indians gathered on Circle Hill.
Detailed Plot
Description
Part Three
• Wes arrests Frank and locks him in the basement. On his way out to
inform Gloria, he tells David to get Len if there’s trouble.
• The grandparents arrive and demand that Frank be released. The
grandfather accuses Wes of being motivated by malicious jealousy.
• David recognises the terrible toll these events are exacting on his
father. He wants his parents to provide an explanation for the
confrontation with the grandfather, but his father can only advise him
not to let either of his parents into their house, should they return.
David’s grief for his utterly changed life is focused on the loss of his
horse, Nutty, kept at his grandparents’ ranch.
Part Three
Continued
Part Three Continuation
• As he walks into town on a grocery errand for his mother the next
day, David is overcome with the ignominy of being a Hayden, a
name that yesterday commanded respect, if not admiration. His
shame is mixed with confusion as he reflects on his Uncle Frank’s
professional dealings he may have had with two of the women David
sees in the street that day: Miss Schott and Loretta Waterman.
• Gail shoots a warning shot at a party of men sent by the
grandfather to release Frank. Len arrives on the scene and using his
gun as a threat persuades the men to leave.
Part Three
Continued
Part Three Continuation
• Discussion of Frank’s prosecution and the dangers of keeping him
confined in the basement. Gail suggests he be released to protect her
home and family and Len supports her, on the grounds of the
difficulty of securing a conviction, given the power of Julian Hayden.
• Frank smashes the preserves stored in the basement.
• Wes discovers Frank has suicided. David registers a feeling of relief
and even love for his uncle.
Detailed Plot
Description
Epilogue
• The
manner of Frank’s death and his crimes are suppressed and
Frank takes his reputation to the grave and the family’s standing is
thus preserved. Its members remain unreconciled.
• The family move interstate to Fargo, where the father takes up a law
practice.
• David reflects on the effects of the events of his childhood on his
adult life and attitudes and describes the subsequent fate of the
major players.
• David recalls a backyard football game with Marie and Ronnie as a
time when he was “accepted ....for myself and not my blood or
birthright.”
Detailed Plot
Description
Main Menu
Setting
Montana 1948 was set in Mercer County, in Bentrock, Montana. It
was a small town with a population less than two thousand people. It
was both farm and ranch country, but with only a few exceptions,
neither farms nor ranches were large or prosperous. On the western
edge of the county and extending into two other counties was the Fort
Warren Indian Reservation, the rockiest and sandiest land in the
region.Where as all of the North-Eastern Montana is hard country,
the land is dry and sparse and the wind never stops blowing.
Map of
Montana
Map of Montana
Story
setting
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Key Characters
David Hayden
Frank Hayden
Wes Hayden
Gail Hayden
Julian Hayden
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“I did what boys usually did and
exulted in the doing: I rode
horseback....I swam; I fished; I
David Hayden
hunted....I explored; I scavenged...”
David is a young twelve year old boy. He’s a healthy country boy who
came from a family of leaders of the county. He is treated like a
young boy but is always trying to be respected and treated as a
mature person. His parents are always trying to protect him, but he
just wants them to trust him and inform him of the issues that
include him.
Throughout the book his character matures and inturn he wishes his
parents would notice his maturation and treat him older. David
secretly becomes aware of the situations that occur in the story however
his parents don’t know. When his parents and older friends continue
trying to keep the truth from David he loses trust in them.
David Hayden
Continued
David Hayden Continuation
When David finds out about Franks Reputation his relationship with
him is completely changed. He previously trusted and admired his
uncle Frank but now he can’t stand him. It is a confusing time for
David, his thoughts on his Uncle Frank that he had held all his life
had suddenly been proven incorrect and his new thoughts were the
absolute opposite of his previous views of him.
David’s parents tried their best to keep David ignorant about Frank’s
reputation, little did they know he knew almost everything. The more
they kept from David, the more David lost trust in them as he was
aware of the truths they were hiding. However, as much as David
wanted his parents to included him, he was still young and deep
down did not feel ready to deal with the situation. This is obvious
through his statement ‘ To hear mum saying those words was so
unlike her.’
Key Characters Menu
Julian Hayden
“Was a dominating man who drew
sustenance and strength from
controlling others..... - first you
master the beasts, then you regulate
the behaviour of men and women”
Julian was the previous sheriff of Mercer County, the father of Frank
and Wes, and the grandfather of David. He is a big strong man and
his physical appearance matches his personality, which gives him total
control over people. He will always say what he thinks, like David says
‘ That was another of my Grandfather’s specialties- turning casual
remarks so they became opportunities for him to pass on his
judgements or browbeating opinions.’ Julian is a dominating man and
in the story it is implied that he also has no respect for the Sioux
Indians, and even molests them, similar to Frank’s actions. Julian
favours Frank, as Frank is very similar to him, even in his actions.
This favouritism causes a lot of conflict within the family.
When David, Wes and Gail learn that Julian, finds Frank molesting
the Sioux Indians humorous and acceptable, they are astonished, and
learn a new side of Julian. They lose respect for him, and begin to stand
up for themselves.
Key Characters Menu
Wes Hayden
Wes is the sheriff of the county and father to David. He is a big
strong man, however, has a bad leg from many years earlier when he
was injured by a horse. His bad leg kept him from going to war with
his brother, Frank. As a result his father has never given Wes the
same respect as he gives to Frank. The favouritism that his father
gives to frank, and their strong bond intimidates Wes and he is
forever trying to be accepted by his father and brother. Gail, Wes’s
wife knows how much he is always trying to impress them which
prevents him from being who he really is. David explains this in the
book when he says ‘ She wanted my father to find another job and for
us to move because only doing those things would, she felt, allow my
father to be fully himself.’
Wes Hayden
Continued
Wes Hayden Continuation
Wes was right in the middle of the Hayden reputation, and yet he
didn’t fit anybody’s ideal. His wife Gail wishes he were a attorney
and David feels that his father doesn’t live up to the tough sheriff
stereotype, as David quotes ‘As long a my father was going to be
sheriff, a position with so much potential for excitement, danger, and
bravery, why couldn’t any of that promise be fulfilled?’
When Wes takes action on Frank after finding out about him
molesting girls, he is left is a tough situation. Julian, is furious at
him, and Wes still stands up for what he believes is right. This is an
important part for his character as he comes out of his shell, and
appears to be less intimidated by his brother and father.
Key Characters Menu
Gail Hayden
Gail is a quiet and reserved type of women, who is always thinking of
others. She is not a hard country type of woman, and doesn’t like where
they live. As David remembers her often saying ‘ She fears for his soul.’
She was a spiritual woman, quiet the opposite of her husband who was
irreligious.
When Gail realises the horrible things Frank does to the Indian girls,
she strongly believes that he should pay justice. Although she is easily
beaten down when her and her family are threatened. This shows her
love for her family, but unfortunately how her personality is easily
beaten by others, especially males.
Key Characters Menu
Frank Hayden
Frank is the ideal husband, doctor, uncle and son. He is tall, strong,
handsome, kind and a war hero. Everyone respects him and strives to be
respected by him. Frank also sees himself as superior over others and the
law. He doesn’t think the laws apply to him too, and believes he can take
advantage of his patients and have no consequences.
When everybody finds out about his dark side they lose respect for him.
Except for his father, who continues to think the world of him and
support him. David had always thought highly of his uncle Frank, but
after finding out about him molesting girls his view of him changes
dramatically. He even has the thought, of what the consequences would
be if he killed Frank.
Frank himself could not deal with being in trouble or having people
think badly of him. Whilst being held in the basement he realises the
turn his life had taken and he decides to kill himself, escaping all
Key Characters Menu
consequences to his actions.
Themes
Truth and Justice
Growing up
Trust
Abusing Power
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Truth and Justice
The theme Truth and Justice is the main drama of the story, it causes
the most conflict and confusion. As a vital decision in the story pulls
relationships apart. The ccharacters are torn between seeking justice,
and being loyal to their family. The line between knowing the truth
and seeking justice is impossible to see when reputations, love,
relationships and lives are in jeopardy. The dilemma is huge and
basically creates the story. The theme is one that not only applies to
much of the story but also reality, and is real to many people who
experience it in their lives.
Themes Menu
Growing Up
The narrator, David, was just 12 years old when the summers
circumstances became all too real for him. His innocence was quickly
lost as he realised many things about people that he previously didn’t
know. At the young age he was learning that evil could exist in the
most trusting places, and that life is not always easy. However, in the
tough position that he was in he took on his newly acquired knowledge
and was mature with it, by protecting his mother and creating his
own views and beliefs of the world and other people.
Themes Menu
Trust
Many of the characters, experienced loss or gain of trust in the story. In
particular David lost trust in many people, as they kept information
from him that he believed he should know. He also lost trust when he
learnt new sides of people that he had previously not known.
Loss of trust is an immense influence on people’s views of the world and
other people. It is an event that everybody encounters in their life and
generally heavily impacts their future. In David's situation he realised
the negatives in life, however, his new knowledge and loss of trust
towards Frank, altered his views to be more correct.
Themes Menu
Abusing power
People who have the power are the ones who abuse it, seems to be a
common occurrence in both reality and fiction stories. Julian and
Frank abused the power from their reputation and professions. They
took advantage of people and went against the rules of their society
and expected to get away with it.
It is unfortunate that the people who are the most respected can become
so corrupt, that they can take advantage of other people and are easily
forgiven. It is the minority and powerless that are forgotten about,
until they do something wrong and then they have huge consequences
given to the by the corrupt and powerful people. Consequences that the
superior in society never face, even when they are in the wrong.
Themes Menu
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Personal Response
Being able to ‘read a book by it’s cover’, definitely does not apply
to Montana 1948. Before reading the book I expected a story about
a boy growing up in a little ranch town. Little did I know that the
story was going to include molesting, suicide, murder and
dishonesty. The book really brought all these evil things in life
into perspective and I realised how much they can affect peoples
lives. All my life I feel I have been sheltered and to read about the
life of somebody experiencing all these negatives things makes me
more aware of lives some people live.
I have also never given much sympathy towards the Indians as I
have never been aware of the racism that they receive. If in reality
the racism towards the Indians is even half as bad as it was in the
book, then I am astounded at how inhumane some people can be
towards other races.
References
• Watson, Larry (1993) Montana 1948, Great Britain, Milkweed
editions
• McNair, Conner (2000) ‘Montana 1948’ [Online], available
from internet:
http://www.fayar.net/east/library/ourlibrary/studentreviews/mo
ntana.html
• Geology.com (2005) ‘Montana State Map’ [Online], available
from Internet: http://geology.com/state-map/maps/montanastate-map.gif
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