Alex Podlasinska

Throughout Daniel Woodrell’s novel Winter’s Bone, the protagonist, Ree Dolly, is frequently portrayed in a manner which embodies both femininity and masculinity. These seemingly juxtaposing descriptions serve to highlight Ree’s position within her family, in which she acts as the single parent of her two younger brothers.

Setting up the story, Woodrell describes Ree as wearing a sundress with combat boots, having a figure which is thin in the waist but nevertheless sturdy, and performing the respectively feminine and masculine acts of worrying about putting food on the table for her brothers while chopping wood (3). These descriptions all occur within the first chapter of the novel, establishing this dichotomy early in the story. As the novel progresses, imagery of this sort persists. An example of such an instance is when Ree and Gail are walking to Gail’s truck, and “Ree carried the shotgun, Gail carried the baby” (154). This description of the two women includes Gail performing a traditionally feminine act while Ree performs a traditionally masculine act. This provides a direct contrast between the average woman and Ree, emphasizing Ree’s stray from expectations.

Initially in the novel, Ree expresses a desire to leave her life behind and join the army (26). The military is generally associated with traditionally male attributes, and Ree’s inclination to join the army is therefore yet another way in which she expresses masculine qualities. By the end of the novel, however, Ree chooses to stay with her family despite being given the opportunity to escape (193). This decision brings attention to Ree’s fluctuation between fulfilling feminine and masculine roles.

Ree’s undefined relationship with gender also prevails when she interacts with older men, including Blond Milton and Little Arthur. All of these men dismiss Ree’s efforts to find her father, instead belittling her and not taking her seriously. While interacting with both men, the idea of sex comes up to some degree, though the severity ranges from commentary by Blonde Milton to assault by Little Arthur. Through these interactions it can be seen that due to her gender, Ree has little power, despite being the head of her household. The gender under which Ree’s actions could traditionally be classified depends on her situation, but it is clear that throughout the novel she exhibits traits that are both feminine and masculine.