Everett Lo’s Reviews > Montana 1948 > Status Update

The largest event in this section is the suicide of Frank, which shows his character in two different ways. One interpretation shows selflessness, where he died to save Wes and Julian from having to deal with his fall. Another interpretation shows cowardice, where he would rather die a hero than face his crimes. Whichever interpretation, perhaps even both, Watson put the final nail in Frank's story and character.

I think Wes trapping Frank in the basement, while very practical, also has a deeper symbolic meaning that the author is implying. Basements are places where you keep things hidden, things you don't want to be seen. Frank being placed in the closet can be seen as "hiding" a family secret. I think the author also used this to build tension. A living person being with you makes the problem real and tantamount.

I was interested by Davy's "vision" at the end of the section. In the vision sees the Indians, not as savages but as just ordinary people. I think the author used a child to show just how backward racism really is. Davy is a child and thus a clean slate without prejudice who can look from an unbiased view and see just another person, not a savage. This is also quite similar to Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

While the death of Marie didn't shock me, what Davy describes that night piqued my interest. He claims to have been unable to breathe and feel the death. I think Watson did this to give us clues as to how she died. Ironically, she supposedly died of Pneumonia, which causes the inability to breathe, yet as Davy describes the room as if someone else is there. This could indicate someone actually murdered Marie instead.

I was surprised when Davy described shooting a magpie on page 75. I didn't expect him to hit anything and saw the scene as simply taking out his anger on something. I think Larry Watson added this to really show the moment where Davy becomes a man. He sees himself release all his anger on a magpie, and begins to realize that the world isn't just sunshine and rainbows, and that everyone can do evil, even himself.

An event that caught my interest is the homecoming picnic and Wesley's reaction. He isn't jubilant like his beaming father. Instead he melts into the crowd, being seen picking up paper scraps while his brother is congratulated. I think the author did this to show Wesley's jealousy as he is dutiful, picking up scraps even with broken leg, while his brother is being applauded by the whole town which clearly angers him.

One thing that piqued my interest was Marie's refusal to see a doctor, while it while it is passed off as indian superstition, she then asks for Dr. Snow instead of Dr. Hayden. Even after she hears it will be free she still insists on not seeing Dr. Hayden. This action seems to defy logic, so I think the author put this in to show that there might be something more sinister as to why Marie is scared of Dr. Hayden

I was surprised that the father chose to obey his father and become the sheriff. Since he went to law school, so I would assume he would practice law. I think the author mentioned this to reinforce what we know about the father as an obedient and passive man, and the grandfather as dominating. It could also be important since historically sheriff's carried out their own justice instead of following the law.