The fundamental purpose for the main character, Ree, in the
novel, Winter’s Bone, is as a caretaker
to others. Ree is a slave to the needs
and responsibilities of her family, which ultimately shapes her emotional and
physical existence and journey.
From the very beginning of the novel, we are made aware that
this is a character who is essentially created for the purpose of others. From
the very beginning, we are made aware that Ree’s body is “made for loping after
needs,” symbolizing her extreme responsibility for others (Woodrell 3). The existence of this character is dull and
gloomy, much like the weather around her. Ree is the only individual capable of
responsibility in her family, and even begins to teach her younger brothers about
her chores.
Early in the novel, Ree’s father leaves in a shady fashion,
without providing for the family. He advises Ree, “start lookin’ for me soon as
you see my face. ‘Til then, don’t even wonder” (Woodrell 3). Ree and her father’s interaction introduces
him as an unreliable and irresponsible. He leaves Ree with her mentally ill
mother and family, without food or money. However, Ree’s character is so
devoted to others, that she puts herself in danger, in order to save her family
and potentially her father. Her journey
to find her father’s body is very urgent, telling family that she’s “lookin’
for Dad” and has to “run him down, and quick” (Woodrell 21). Her quest and multiple
interrogations with people leave her beaten and in a position “to end up et by
hogs, or wishin’ you was” (25). Despite
the risk, she continues on her journey.
There are multiple instances where Ree puts others above herself
and exhibits a deep loyalty to her family.
When police show up to Ree’s door, she immediately exclaims “They didn’t
do nothin’! They didn’t do a goddamned thing!” (Woodrell 11). Ree’s whole life is devoted to defending and
protecting others, which proves very tolling on her, emotionally and physically.
This existence for the purpose of others, leaves Ree constantly
desiring an escape and way out of this toxic culture. Ree constantly listens to
CD’s of “soothing sounds” and “tranquil streams” to provide her with a
temporary escape from the gruesome, drug-filled environment. However, Ree longs
for an escape through serving in the Army, “where you got to travel with a gun and
they make everybody help keep things clean” (Woodrell 15). Another reason that this option is so
appealing to Ree is that “she’d never have her own concerns” (Woodrell
15). Ree wants the Army to provide her
with an escape, even though she will still be fighting for others.
Overall, it seems that Ree’s existence is strictly for the
purpose of others. Ree suffers emotional
and physical pain in order to provide for her family. Even when Ree dreams of
an escape, with the military, it still involves helping other people.
I think that Ree’s existence being solely for servitude of others is perhaps indication of the role that women in the Dolly family are forced into. Women in Winter’s Bone are used by the men in the novel because of their intense loyalty. Gail, who has married into the Langan family, which is an extension of the Dolly family, is immensely loyal to her husband. Although “[h]e won’t let [her] drive” and he cheats on her with his old girlfriend, Gail stays with her husband, Floyd (Woodrell, 35). There is a time when Gail leaves Floyd, but in the end of the she goes back to him, mainly because “Ned’s gonna need more than me in this life” (159). This is an indication of the reasoning to why the women are so loyal to their men: they feel as though they cannot survive without them. In addition to their dependence, Dolly women are loyal because they are terrified of the men in their life. Like Victoria, Uncle Teardrop’s wife, who stops talking after Uncle Teardrop threatens her: “I said shut up once already, with my mouth” (25). Uncle Teardrop is a violent and unstable man, which is why Victoria wisely is loyal to him. This fear-induced loyalty is also apparent in Thump Milton’s wife, who initially does not let Ree speak to Thump Milton. When Ree comes back to talk to Thump again, Ree is greeted by “heavy whacks” from Thump Milton’s wife and her sisters (129). Even though Thump’s wife is frightening to Ree, Thump is the one motivating his wife to hurt Ree. Overall, the Dolly women in Ree’s life are loyal to their men to a fault, which is perhaps why Ree is so loyal to her family. Ree has been exposed this loyal behavior by the women in her life and knows only that type of behavior. While Ree does not lend her loyalty to a man in the same way other Dolly women have, she is immensely loyal to the men in her life: her brothers. This loyalty leads Ree, and all other Dolly women, to exist for servitude of the family.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that Ree does have a responsibility to others and plays a caretaking role in the novel, I believe that the term “slave” is not accurate due to Ree’s independent and strong nature. She wants to help her brothers and her mother. She teaches her brothers to defend themselves, to cook, and to be independent. Even though time and time again, people tell her not to look for her dad, she continues to do so even though it is dangerous and proves how strong she is through her actions. I believe there is a difference between being a slave and having a sole purpose of taking care of others and being a form of a matriarch and a leader for her family and community; Ree proves she is the latter through her caring for her family, challenging other people for information on her dad even though it brings her harm, and eventually succeeding in keeping their house through her persistent actions. Ree even has the opportunity to be able to leave when receiving the money from the bail; however, she chooses to stay with her brothers. When her brothers ask what she is going to buy with the money, she replies, “Wheels.” (193) This response gives readers the idea that Ree and her family will be able to leave the community which will provide them an opportunity for much more freedom. I don’t believe that someone considered a slave with the sole purpose of taking care of others would have that opportunity and choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Ree’s purpose in the novel often revolves around her helping others, but the way in which Woodrell had Ree completing noble tasks in morally questionable ways adds another layer to her character. By the time Ree has been taken for a beating, she tells her captors “Whoever killed him, I don’t need . . . to know . . . that” (134), all she wants is the house she would sacrifice anything for. While she was not complicit in her father’s murder, she willingly gives up all right to solve the crime and bring in her father’s killer because she has more important needs. Even when Teardrop tells her that he knows who killed Jessup, she just hugs him and lets him go to do whatever he sees fit (192). She is doing what has to be done to care for her family in both cases, sacrificing the truth and keeping out of the conflict, but she has a chance to enact justice and do good for more people in the community but chooses not to. By the end of the novel, when Satterfield says she could make a good bond collector (192), she immediately tells her brothers that they are getting “wheels” (193), presumably to leave town. She wants to leave her life behind not only to protect her family but because what she had to do for them left her with both a “sorrow and a blessing” (187).
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