Montana 1948 ...

[beyondtomorrow]

Hi, I'm currently reading and studying the text Montana1948 at school and start this threat for those who are doing the same novel. I'll post my own work and thoughts about the text and its characters. So please, any contribution is greatly appreciated.

[beyondtomorrow]

• Throughout the book, we learnt a lot about Julian’s character through David’s eyes.
• Julian’s masculinity is based purely on power and his control over others and things
• He progresses from mastering ‘the land and its beasts’ to regulating ‘the behaviour of men and women’ (p.20)
• Julian clearly shows many of the qualities of masculine stereotypes of his era: tough, physically strong, aggressive, dominant, active, powerful, controlling and highly competitive
• Julian Hayden embodies and is the example of the ‘traditional’ patriarchal male model.
• The writer shows how domination of/over other men as well as women is part of this model.
• For example, Julian exerts power over Wes, over Len and over his workers.
• He shows disrespect for women. E.g. Enid, his wife, is always in a subordinate role
• He denigrates others_ a typical e.g. of this behaviour is when he speaks derisively of Gloria as having ‘enough tit for twins’ and who should be able to have children
• He degrades Indian women as ‘squaws’ and ‘red meat’.
• He seeks to perpetuate his name in a dynasty.
• An example is how the sheriff’s position was passed down to his son, Wesley, without question.
• He wants the power to be remained and retained in his family so he can exert his control whenever it suits him.
• This can be seen in the Frank lock-up in the basement episode when he forces Wes to give in and release Frank.
• Julian is confident of his place in his society and he is determined that his sons will follow his example. Frank is successful and loved whereas Wes fails and is treated with disdain and disrespect and is barely even regarded as a son.


These are what I think about the character of Julian. How about you? What do you think

[beyondtomorrow]

• As we all know, Frank is the handsome war hero – he fulfils the American image of the good guy.
• Julian’s pride in the ‘strengths’ of this man gives Frank his confidence.
• Frank Hayden brings to the novel the manipulative sexuality in models of masculinity - his sexual abuse of American Indian women who not only have the lowest status but also represent the 'other' (gender and ethnicity).
• How can a respectable man be guilty of sexual abuse? Julian's answer: simply, this is not a crime.
• What Wes really has to understand is that 'Screwing an Indian. Or feeling her up or whatever' are not grounds to '...lock up a man’ (p. 119-120).
• The crime is kept hidden because it involves those with most power against those least able to defend themselves.
• In the cultural climate of 1948 the local hero and doctor would be the last to be suspected.
• When Julian remarks about Frank's sexual initiation when he had 'that little squaw down on her hands and knees' and Frank's partiality to 'red meat' – this is obviously something Julian knows about and disregards as 'natural'.

Are there more to Frank than just a charming villain behind his doctor/war hero exterior? Where are your opinions?

[beyondtomorrow]

• Wesley’s masculinity contrasts with Frank and Julian.
• He has more feminine than masculine qualities:
• He cries when he upsets (death of Marie, Frank’s death)
• He makes promises just to keep the atmosphere peaceful.
• In short he has the non-confrontational and non-aggressive personality – which both David & Julian reject.
• He accepts the position of sheriff in Julian's dominance of him: 'It would never have occurred to Wes to refuse'
• However although he didn't admire Julian or Frank, he couldn't remove himself from his father's control and his father's view of him as inferior and obedient.

Obviously Wesley is shadowed by Frank's more appealing appearance and grace. But at least, he is not morally corrupted. He respects the law and does not abuse his power for personal pleasures. This is how I view Wes, but how would you view him?