The first lines one reads in the beginning of Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 are, “From the summer of my twelfth year I carry a series of images move vivid and lasting than any others of my boyhood and indelible beyond all my attempts the years make to erase or fade them…”(p. 1). This foreshadowing immediately gives off the ambiance that their are major conflicts to occur. Of course every novel needs a conflict to move the plot along, but what makes Montana 1948 special is all of the conflicts involve family members. This makes resolution harder because of a natural desire for the best for the person while also wanting them to face their consequences. Also conflicts involving family can be more intense with tension building if the person chooses
…show more content…
But throughout the novel we see him grow significantly. When Marie begins to become sick, his father comes in and says something about him being the babysitter and David thinks about it, “How naive I was! Until that moment I believed that we had hired Marie to care for our house, to keep it clean and prepare meals since my mother, unlike most mothers, worked all day outside our home.”(p. 33) This is just the beginning of David’s realization of his development. He had always thought highly of his Uncle Jack, respecting him as children are taught to. But as the story progresses he becomes more aware of what is going on. David becomes uneasy with the facts he discovers about his beloved uncle. The subjects that Jack bring such as rape, murder,and suicide, are a lot for a twelve year to handle. However David manages himself with adult-like manner,but he still wants to be the child to his parents. He is conflicted between his curiosity and the realization that information brings responsibility. All kids are faced with this in their lives, but David’s issues seem more intense because of his proximity to his Uncle Jack. Once he puts the pieces together that Uncle Jack could have killed Marie, a light switch flips for David and he is enraged but would never have wanted it to result in his uncle killing himself. No matter what the situation a child is placed in that forces them to grow up, the battle is always between knowing the truth and preserving
But throughout the novel we see him grow significantly. When Marie begins to become sick, his father comes in and says something about him being the babysitter and David thinks about it, “How naive I was! Until that moment I believed that we had hired Marie to care for our house, to keep it clean and prepare meals since my mother, unlike most mothers, worked all day outside our home.”(p. 33) This is just the beginning of David’s realization of his development. He had always thought highly of his Uncle Jack, respecting him as children are taught to. But as the story progresses he becomes more aware of what is going on. David becomes uneasy with the facts he discovers about his beloved uncle. The subjects that Jack bring such as rape, murder,and suicide, are a lot for a twelve year to handle. However David manages himself with adult-like manner,but he still wants to be the child to his parents. He is conflicted between his curiosity and the realization that information brings responsibility. All kids are faced with this in their lives, but David’s issues seem more intense because of his proximity to his Uncle Jack. Once he puts the pieces together that Uncle Jack could have killed Marie, a light switch flips for David and he is enraged but would never have wanted it to result in his uncle killing himself. No matter what the situation a child is placed in that forces them to grow up, the battle is always between knowing the truth and preserving