Female Roles In Montana 1948 By Larry Watson

In Montana 1948 by Larry Watson, twelve year old David Hayden summarizes his abnormal childhood life of living in Bentrock, Montana. The town is small and the Hayden family lives close to a Native American reservation. This novel focuses mainly on Wesley Hayden, the father is the elected sheriff of the town and Uncle Frank, the doctor who also happens to be a rapist and murderer. In this book, there are few female roles. One of the most important female characters is the mother of David and wife of Wesley, Gail Hayden. Gail is a secondary character who is still thoroughly represented in the novel because she brings the strong presence of authenticity within her own ideas which helps to show a deeper meaning of the book, loyalty to the people around you.

In this novel the there is the constant sense of loyalty that is most present throughout Gail’s actions; in regards for Marie Little Soldier, Gail has always been on her side

After Gail fires warning shots at the men, she yells out of the house to them: “‘You get away from there! Get away from the house––do you hear me!’” (131). This scene is one of the most important when thinking about Gail’s personality and its contributions to the novel; in this scene readers are able to understand that she is not only determined on keeping Frank in the basement, but she is also content with following through with Wesley’s actions of arresting Frank. When she keeps the men away from the house, this gives the audience the idea of Gail wanting justice to be brought to the community. The meaning of this specific part of Montana 1948 shows Gail’s longing for justice, which also connects to the notation of loyalty by holding her accountable for Frank staying inside of the