The main character in Winter’s Bone, Ree Dolly, is a girl of
strength and courage. This courage is
best portrayed in Chapter 24 when Ree is walking towards Thump Milton’s house “with
nothing watching her back but the sun.” She
is heading to Thump’s alone even though she has been told already to “don’t
come back’n try’n ask him twice..Just don’t.”
The warning was stern and meant to be taken seriously. Ree knows this is a crazy thing to do but at
this point what choice does she have.
She has exhausted all her other options.
This is almost the last resort for her.
It takes great courage for her to go back to Thump’s a second time.
“Mamaw’s
coat” that Ree won’t take off even though it “felt too heavy in the turning
weather is being used as a source of strength for the task ahead. Ree knows going to Milton Thump’s house is a
bad idea but she knows she needs to do this to get the answer to the
whereabouts of her Daddy. Her family and
their survival is resting on her shoulders.
She is determined to get the answers she seeks.
When Ree arrived at the house she sees
Mrs. Thump coming towards her with her hair still in curlers and a steaming
cup. Ree sees this as an act of
friendliness as she states “I’m not really-“ but then the situation changes. What started out as an unassuming figure
coming towards her now turns into a “black wings flying angel” and a “mutter of
beasts.”
We can truly learn a lot about Ree’s
character in this scene. Even though she
knew and was told not to come back and ask again, she still took the risk and
went back a second time. She couldn’t
let her family down. As Mrs. Thunp asked
Ree the first time she went looking for answers if she had any men to help her. Ree’s answer was she couldn’t wait that
long. She knew to get the answers she
was looking for would need all the strength and courage she had.
Ree coming back to Thump's house is her greatest display of courage for sure, right up there with her going with the women to find her dad. She knows Thump is feared by many. Also, Thump has avoided her questioning, and Ree has been threatened to not come back. Like many of her decisions though, she didn't have a choice. She's going to lose everything if she doesn't take the risk, so she does. Ree will do whatever it takes to get the information she needs, and her personality is one of few that would have gained proof of Jessup's disappearance.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that going to Thump's house showed an extreme amount of courage. She knew what she had to do and she did it. It got her into a lot of trouble with many different people but in a town like that, that’s what was expected. It’s sad she had to make up for her dad’s mistakes but you are exactly right, what other choice did she have?
ReplyDeleteThe feeling of "the last resort" that you mention seems to be woven throughout the entire movie. Very seldom does she heed the warnings of those who she encounters on her journey. Ree seemingly had no concern for her own well being, she was determined to find her father no matter the consequences or what that discovery would be. I would also point out that she seems to be quite disappointed with Merab and the other women of the town. Whether she expected some sort of feminine bond or sympathy for her situation, the women remain loyal to their husbands until the finale. Whether the order is given to show Ree the body of her father or Merab finally takes pity on her is unknown.
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