Montana 1948 Symbols

Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colours used to represent abstract ideas or concepts in a text. Symbols make a work of art/literature/film appealing and add depth to the plot.

Paint In the novel, David's father, Wesley, talks about repainting the house and then talked about removing the paint altogether. The paint represents secrecy covered up. When Wesley says he wanted a new paint job, he wanted the crime of his brother, to remain a secret. However, he makes a second remark stating that maybe everyone's house should not have any paint. This is his way of saying that he doesn't want anyone in Bentrock to hide any secrets. “It must be scraped and sanded and covered with two coats of white paint.” This is the hard work associated with bringing Frank to justice urged by his wife and by his duty to carry out the law. “We’re going to paint the house,” he said. “…And we might have to put two coats on.” “Though if it was up to me, I’d probably just let it go. Let it go right down to bare wood.” Page 112-113

Paint What do you think Wesley means when he says, “Paint. Fresh Paint. That’s how you find life and civilization. Women come and they want fresh paint.” Who is he referring to? What complications does he think fresh paint/civilisation brings with it for men like Wesley? Page 113

Wind What changes do you think she is hoping for? The wind is a symbol of change and identity. Gail, is named appropriately for she loves the wind. When she describes that the wind of Montana “smells like the mountains. Like snow. Like stone.” she is saying that she feels she can’t grow and change in Montana just like how plants can’t grow in stone. She says that the wind from North Dakota ( where she is from) smelled like dirt where things can grow and change. “But I always loved it, that feel of rushing air. Bringing something new, was the way I felt.” (Page 65) Gail loved the wind because she felt like change was going to happen (Wind moves soil from one area to another, changing the agriculture, wind changes the weather, brings rain and moves pollen/seed from one area to another.) What changes do you think she is hoping for? Page 65.

Shooting of a magpie When David had shot and killed a magpie while on his grandparents' property, he saw the bird's dead eyes and felt a strange mix of emotions. What he saw in the bird’s eyes was the power of death. The power and exhilaration he felt was from the fact that, when he had a gun, he had the power to take away life. The sadness and fear, he also experienced, was due to him not knowing how to use his control over life in the right way. After it was all said and done, though, David felt abnormally calm. He recognises that his pent-up feelings- sexual and emotional are released through shooting; · ... that he needed to kill ever again' (p. 125).

Shooting of Magpie Do you think shooting of Magpie represents loss of his innocence? Explain your answer.

David’s Dream Dreams are nothing more than our subconscience revealing itself, and in David's dream, he sees Indians from the Reservation climbing Circle Hill to mourn Marie. Q: Write your interpretation of the dream? What do you think it is revealing/symbolising?

David's dream of the Sioux gathering on Circle Hill. David is afraid that the Indians might seek revenge on the people of Bentrock. This implicitly refers to the tragedy of the American Indians. They are the oppressed minority and are unable to seek the justice they deserve. David sees them dressed like ordinary people – having lost their rich heritage. They are not ready to come down to the town with war cries as in the movies, but are just ‘milling about’. This dream symbolises not only their victimisation, but David's realisation that someone, perhaps he, has an obligation to provide them with justice. By having David dream of social responsibility, Watson is showing the metamorphosis of David's character from a child living in a world of "the Wild West" to a man living in a world of injustice, prejudice, and deliberate cruelty. Watson is indicating the need for those who can to do for those that can't do for themselves.

The Log House What else do you think the log house represents? Power Masculinity Supremacy Dude Ranch What else do you think the log house represents?

Julian Hayden’s Log House Julian Hayden's house symbolises the power he has over Bentrock. It also symbolises that the Haydens believe they are better than everyone else and can get away with whatever they want. “Haydens are the law.” Wes mentions in the book that it is the typical easterners idea of a dude ranch. It also is a very large cabin. It is large enough for one to hide stuff in. This shows that the Hayden family has secrets in its house. It also symbolises the pieces of a family. The cabin could not stand without all the logs in place. If one log falls, the whole cabin is weaker and may fall as well. When one piece diminishes in a family such as Frank, then the whole family becomes weaker.

Coyote Page 86 What is a coyote usually associated with? What do you think is the significance of Marie saying,“He’s hard to see when you look for him.”?

Coyote Coyote symbolises evil. In that way, it symbolises Uncle Frank and that is why Marie mentions it. Frank hides who he truly is behind his charming personality. Maries’ reference to David's inability to see a coyote (p. 86) meant to be an enigmatic reference to the human inability to tell the good guys from the bad. Are both Frank and Wesley coyotes? Are both wily and manipulative? Explain in what ways.

Light “For an instant something parted, as if the wind blew a curtain open and allowed a flash of sunlight into the room. Did Len know what I knew?” Light works as a motif to heighten the moment of illumination but David is not sure that Len is 'talking about the same thing' (p. 94). What is Len not telling and why is he hiding in the dark, stuffy room? Page 94

Darkness The Deputy's house is in darkness with only pinpoints of light. Perhaps symbolic of Len McAuley's darkness of the spirit. For years his position as Julian Hayden's deputy has meant that he has had to stand by while ideals of justice have been compromised in Bentrock. He must have known, just as Julian Hayden did, that Frank has been frequenting the Indian reservation for sex with the Indian girls and, given Julian Hayden’s domination, there must have been other compromises of justice. It is inferred that this is why Len became an alcoholic.