Critical Analysis of "Montana 1948"
Critical Analysis of "Montana 1948"
In the Novel "Montana 1948" by Larry Watson, there are many points in the book that we find Wes in a situation that requires a decision. The actions and choices that he makes reflect upon him and the story. Things like what gun he carries, when to look away from a crime, and when to turn in your own brother make the reader learn more about him. In turn we perceive him to be the type of person that cannot turn in his own brother and is not the hero that a stereotypical western town should have. This view is changed when close to the end of the novel he makes a decision that qualifies him as a respectable and noble officer of the law.
In the beginning of the book we get a visual picture of Wes from the eyes of his son David. "He wore a shirt and tie, as many of the men in town did, but at least they wore boots and Stetsons; my father brogans and a fedora. He had a gun but he never carried it, on duty or off." This quote shows us what David thinks of his father. The reader gets the impression that Was is not the stereotypical cop, and probably not one who likes to get into conflict, as we can see by his choice not to carry a sidearm. When David talks about his father, the reader gets an image of a son who loves his father but does not respect him as the Sheriff.
As the book progresses the way we view Wes gets worse. After al lthe drama surrounding Wes's brother Frank, we learn that Wes is not always the upstanding and noble sheriff. Wes is faced with the decision of charging his brother with sexual assault or turning his head. When Wes chooses to look away at the crimes despite overwhelming evidence and moral values, the view of Wes is smeared into a picture of a coward. He is a coward because he couldn’t say no to his father, his brother and to himself. Wes didn’t have the courage to stand up for what was right and what he believed in.
Shortly after Wes's image is shattered, the ending of the novel puts most of the pieces...