Montana 1948 Conclusion Essay Example
Montana 1948 Conclusion Essay Example

Montana 1948 Conclusion Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (599 words)
  • Published: February 10, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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“Truth and justice is more important than family loyalty and personal convenience" - This is what Wesley Hayden understands. The novel ‘Montana 1948’, written by Larry Watson, depicts the story of a twelve year old boy and his life as a kid. The small boy is David Hayden who was the son of Wesley Hayden and lives in a small town called Montana. Truth and justice was way more important over family loyalty and personal convenience and was evident through the heroic decision making done by the town’s sheriff, Wesley Hayden. Wes Hayden believed that serving his duty as a sheriff was far more important over family loyalty.

Wesley Hayden’s brother, Frank Hayden was doctor and former war hero; although there were many positive characteristics of him, there

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were also negative things that he did which caused Wes to serve his duty as a sheriff. Frank was clearly not committed and faithful to his job as a doctor, as a result, it lead to him abusing his powers. On the outside he was a very charismatic and charming gentleman, but on the inside he was a very deceitful and dangerous man. He did things such as raping and molesting Indian women, assaulting them and was even responsible for the murdering of Marie Little Soldier.

Through this, Wes is faced with the decision of charging his brother with sexual assault or turning his head. As a brother who he had grown up with, the love and affection shared together was extremely deep. This was an extremely difficult settlement that had resulted the brothers to divide in separate ways. Wes chose to arres

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his brother, Frank, therefore truth and justice was more important to him than family loyalty. The relationship of the Hayden family had conflicted as the head of the family, Grandpa Hayden, tried to protect the issue being held.

Although Wes wasn't the most favourite person within the family, he believed in justice and truth. This is shown on page 85, "Sins - crimes - are not supposed to go unpunished". He had believed that the quality of being fair and reasonable and the administration of the law or authority were extraordinarily important in the 20th century. Through Wesley Hayden’s actions, he had created disagreement, hostility and feud between the family members. However, through the act of love as brothers; Wes considerably accepted that his brother was an offender.

Even so, Wes deliberated on the family's dignity and honor and respects the head of the family's pride by taking action himself and dealt with the difficult situation by holding Frank captive in the basement, until he decided to take his life over all the wrong things that he did and reflected over. The undertaking move Wes had forcefully done was cruel, however, he believed in truth and justice, so he thought what he did here was the right thing. In spite of the fact that Grandpa Hayden had given the badge to Wes, it was unexpected that Frank would take advantage of the family’s role of importance.

Wesley Hayden was a sheriff who is responsible for keeping peace; having various administrative and judicial functions. He could not let the relationship of his family members destroy equity within the community. It was required and

expected that he would fulfill his duty, with this; he had no choice but to punish Frank for his inhumane and brutal actions towards Marie Little Soldier. As of this, Wesley Hayden was extremely pressurised to do the right thing; which he had chosen to make the decision of the punishment given to Frank.

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