Epilogue

Friday, October 17, 2008

Epilogue

Marie Little Soldier:

     Upon reflection, adult David perceives Marie Little Soldier as a close family member. His fondest memory of her was when they were playing football with Ronnie. The three of them had so much fun together and the whole time they had no worries. They all felt completely comfortable around each other and were having a great time just being themselves. That day David felt as if he were part of a family with them. He felt that they accepted him for who he was and not his blood or birthright.

The Deaths of Wesley and Julian Hayden:

     Adult David can't help but to blame what happened in the summer of 1948 with the deaths of Wesley and Julian Hayden. Julian never spoke to Wes, Gail, or David again after the death of Frank. Grandma Hayden was the only one who kept in touch with them. Julian died of a stroke. Adult David believes that the reason Julian died of a stroke was because he kept the secret about Frank. The pressure of holding it in built up and something had to finally blow. In Julian's case, it was the vessel of his brain. Wesley Hayden died of cancer. Again, adult David blamed the incident in 1948 for the death of his dad. He felt that Wes died of the secret he kept and because of his bitterness. After thinking about it, David decided that he shouldn't blame the deaths of his family members on something that happened over forty years ago.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

2. What happens to Frank at the end of part III in Watson's Montana 1948? How does Watson set this up to be an emotional moment for the reader?

     At the end of part III in Watson's Montanta 1948 Frank commited suicide. Wes heard him the night before in the basement making a lot of noise but he didn't go down until the next morning. It was too late and he found his brother dead, with cuts on his wrists.

     Before the readers found out Frank committed suicide by cutting himself, Wes told David a story about when he and Frank were young. The story was that Frank saved Wes from bullies that threatened to scalp(cut) Wes if he didn't give him the golf balls that he found on a golf course. This was an emotional moment for the reader because Frank committed suicide by cutting himself and when they were younger Frank saved Wes from killing himself. If only Wes could have saved Frank from getting cut, the outcome of all of their lives would be different.