After an encounter with a police officer telling her that her family will lose their house unless her father shows up to court, Ree searches for her father. She points out more than once that she has “two boys and Mom to tend to [and she needs] that house to help” (55). She also teaches her brothers Sonny and Harold how to fend for themselves while she’s gone; this all seems to be in preparation not only for when she’s out searching for her father, but also for once she leaves for good. Later, when Ree speaks to her friend Gail about her plans to join the army and what will happen when the house is repossessed, she mentions that her Uncle Teardrop would be willing to take in Sonny but she might have to “[carry] Mom to the booby hatch’n leave her on the steps […] Beg Victoria’n Teardrop to take Harold in” (156). Knowing that Teardrop would raise the boys to produce and sell crank, Gail says, “Oh god, I hope that ain’t the way it goes […] I don’t believe Harold’ll be the type can hack prison” (156). Ree understands that if she leaves, her family will go down the path that she has been trying to avoid.
Ree is eventually able to track her father down and bringing proof of his death to authorities. Afterwards, Ree is given a sack full of the cash that was put up for his bail and offered a job as a headhunter (191-92). When her brother asks if she will leave now that they had money, Ree says, “[naw.] I’d get lost without the weight of you two on my back” (193). After being given money and a future source of income, the only plausible option is for Ree to stay in the Ozarks and take care of her family. Joining the army was simply a dream of escape that wouldn’t materialize unless it was impossible for Ree to provide for her family.
I find it interesting how Ree tells her brothers at the conclusion of the novel, “‘Naw. I’d get lost without the weight of you two on my back’” (193) when they ask her if she still wants to leave them for the army. Ree’s response demonstrates how she stays positive even though she cannot follow her dream. Throughout the novel, Ree is constantly having to give up her own happiness in order to take care of her brothers and mother. She has to teach them how to hunt, cook, and survive in the Ozarks, a job that should be done by her father. Meanwhile, she dreams of the day that she can escape to the army. However, when she receives the money, she understands that she is stuck without an escape. Ree’s explanation to her brothers that she would get lost without them juxtaposes the entire previous novel. In both the novel’s past and future, they are shown as the reason why Ree cannot escape. However, she paints this is a positive light. She explains to her brothers that she is thankful for them, even though it means giving up on her ultimate dream, because they are family. They need her presence more than she needs to escape to the army. Ree’s unselfishness in giving up on her dream for her family shows how she is a caring, family-oriented character.
ReplyDeleteIn the end of the novel, I thought it was strange how they never showed Ree giving an answer to the bondsman. Mike Satterfield goes on about how she did so well finding Jessup and how "[she'd] be like gold to [him]" (Woodrell 192). Suddenly right after this line, Mike leaves the house, we never see how Ree responds to his offer. Without concrete evidence of her response, I feel like it is hard to say that the job is what put the cherry on top for staying at home instead of leaving for the army. Ree’s whole goal was to find a way for her family to sustain itself without her and with this money she technically solved it. Then she realizes that even with the means to live, they all still need her support. Two young children cannot take care of themselves and a mother who is unable to support herself. Ree realized that she must be there, the family would not make it if she had left. I agree, she is a very family-oriented person and is very selfless.
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