Throughout Daniel Woodrell's novel Winter's Bone, it is clear that family is an important identity to the characters. Woodrell shows this in Ree's introductions of herself, often reminding the person she is speaking with that she is a Dolly. In many cases, she repeats that she is a Dolly as almost a characteristic that should allow her a privilege, access, or some kind of understanding. For instance, she informs the representative from Three X Bail Bonds that her father is a Dolly, just like her. Even this unrelated authority figure recognizes the family name and agrees that someone of that family would not run away from the law.
When Ree attempts to speak with Thump Milton, she once again repeats her family name; since she is a Dolly, there is some familial connection which she believes should obligate Thump Milton to speak with her. When he continues to refuse to speak with Ree, she gives what appears to be one of the greatest insults amongst this community. Ree tells Thump Milton's wife that clearly family means nothing to "the big man," thus sparking so much anger in Thump Milton's wife that she throws a can of soup towards Ree. Through this interaction, Woodrell demonstrates the strength of family bonds amongst the community and the particular code of ethics they share.
But beyond family names, Woodrell illustrates the caring bond amongst families through the relationship between Ree and her brothers. In what appears to be the only peaceful family interaction, Ree cooks and cleans for her brothers; she teaches them how to shoot a gun and how to successfully prepare squirrels for cooking. Overall, Ree teaches her siblings the skills they need to survive. Although Woodrell certainly does not paint a harmonious family environment in his novel, this protective nature seems to be respected. Even Blond Milton respects Sonny's willingness to fight for his sister's protection. Although the young brother was disrespecting his elder, and while Blond Milton responded threateningly, "Blond Milton fairly beamed looking at his seed" who was upholding the community's value of protecting the family. While many aspects of family relations in Winter's Bone might be viewed as traditionally wrong, or even abusive, there remains a strong value on family.
Because of the emphasis placed on loyalty to family, Ree is hesitant to believe that her father skipped out on his court date. The deep-seated belief in family is what motivates Ree to learn the truth about what happened to her father, even though everyone is trying to deter her. Although Jessup is described as being a “man given to uttering quick pleading promises that made it easier for him to walk out the door and be gone, or come back inside and be forgiven,” his unreliability is overshadowed by his loyalty to his family (4). Jessup shows loyalty through the defense of the Bromont timber, that if destroyed would result in “the ruination of home” (104). Ree demonstrates her faith in her father when Blond Milton slaps Sonny in the face, saying that Jessup would kill him for doing that (73). Even though her absentee father isn’t there when she needs him, goes to jail often, and cheats on his wife, Ree still trusts that her father will defend the family at any cost. For that reason, Ree never fully believes that her father would run away from the law, and instead knows that he must have been killed.
ReplyDeleteWhile the aspect of family in Winter’s Bone is an important item in Ree’s life the idea of family and familial bonds can also be twisted to have a negative connotation. It is said several times throughout the novel that you can’t cross someone, even if they are family. Ree gets aggressive while trying to get a question to Thump Milton, who is her family but refuses to listen to her anyways. Word gets around to Blond Milton who comes by her house and says, “ You know , there’s people goin’ ‘round sayin’ you best shut up” (Woodrell 72). Everyone knows their family but those relationships are still fragile enough to break when any inconvenience arises. They don’t resolve conflict like family should by talking it through, instead they get revenge just like how Buster Leroy shot Ree’s dad, Jessup, in order to resolve their conflict. Ree can count on her family until she does something that they don’t approve of and then she has to watch out for them. The issue that Ree runs into is that she is forced to ask questions that no one wants to answer about her father’s whereabouts which angers her family because it puts them at risk of the same fate her father faced by sharing that information
ReplyDeleteI agree that family plays a huge role in shaping the identity of the characters in Winter’s Bone. While the Dolly’s do not hold much status socially, Ree mentioning that she is a Dolly causes other characters to recognize their connection. Ree, as the main caretaker of her family, teaches her brother’s how to survive and always looks after her ‘crazy’ mother. In addition, the valuing of family is demonstrated by other characters. While Sonny is the result of his affair, Blond Milton and Sonya tell Ree they will take him in (155). They do not offer to do the same to Harold or Ree’s mother, which makes it obvious that they are offering to take Sonny in solely because he is Blond Milton’s son. Because he is direct family to them, they want to care for him. Moreover, family plays an important role in Gail’s decision to go back to Floyd. For a while, Gail and Ree play family together. Woodrell describes, “Ree carried the shotgun, Gail carried the baby” (154). Ultimately, Gail chooses to return to Floyd because of Ned. She tells Ree, “‘My heart don’t exactly bust out the trumpets every time I hear his name or nothin’. Nothin’ like that -but I love Ned” (160). Her character is shaped because she feels obligated to provide a family for Ned. Even if it means resigning herself to an unhappy marriage.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that family plays a large role in the identity of the characters. Ree is characterised through her familial ties. Not only does she constantly identify through her family name, but I find interesting that characters are also characterised through the absence of family. Ree's father is absent and then dead. While Ree’s mother who is mentally absent as a result of drugs shapes Ree’s identity. It causes Ree to have to be the mother and father within their family unit. At a young age she takes on high levels of responsibility for her family. Thus family directly shapes her identity. I think it is also interesting how the dynamics of families in the novel is quite different from what they are in urban environments. Having hundreds of family members creates a strong communal bond and environment that is not seen in other communities. As you mention family is one of the few positive things that remain within the novel. I agree with that because within the novel there isn't really any outside help for Ree to rely on. The rare aid that she gets is from family members when characters such as Sony bring her food. Thus overall, family in the novel definitely shapes identity. Not having parents that can take care of Ree causes her to have to step up to the role of parent to her little brothers. The larger, Dolly family, create a network of people which she is tied into.
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