Reoccurring Symbols In Montana 1948 By Larry Watson

In the novel “Montana 1948” by Larry Watson, the protagonist, David Hayden takes readers on a journey through the transition of David’s childhood life toward maturity in a small town of Mercer County, Montana. This is a story narrated from first person view and it contains many raw and meaningful emotions. One important reoccurring symbol throughout the novel is guns. As each of the guns is encountered, many meanings come to mind and as David’s transition to adulthood his idea of a gun changes over time. Though the use of visual contrast, anecdotes, and insights, readers are able to comprehend the transformation in David’s character from innocence to maturity reflected from his view of a gun. The first appearance of a gun in David’s narration

David even comments that his father’s gun is “scratched and nicked and ha[s] a faint blush of rust along the barrel”, which further adds the impression that Wesley does not care about gun and does not see violence and the use of gun as a good solution. Whereas David is disappointed in his father for having a small gun and paid little to the gun when David mentions that he has “the feeling [he] could have kept [his father’s gun] for weeks and [his] father would[ not] have missed it.” (6) . David sees his father position as the sheriff with the duty to protect the towns people in the role of a hero and to carry a gun is a way to show one’s authority. Nevertheless, Wesley seems to perceive a gun as a tool of violence and can cause harm to others, which he prefers to

But there [is] something new. [He feels] strangely calm”. (81) David’s relief feelings over the death of the magpie are really a mask for the relief from all that has happened in his life up till now with Marie’s accusation of Uncle Frank and his grandfather describing uncle Frank bad behavior. David’s has finally realizes the power of a gun and the death has finally hits home for him to relate to other tragic incidents in his life. David starts to realize through his new revelation that a single gun shot that can cause death and sorrow is similar to the incident with Marie and the tension in his family in which a single accusation can cause disruption and