Montana 1948 Lesson Plan

What is the significance of the story about the Hayden men in Minneapolis? What does it reveal about the characters involved, and/or the larger narrative?

This is the only point in the narrative where the Hayden brothers and their father are all getting along together, and offers a counterpoint to the already established tension between them. The glimpse of harmony makes it somewhat easier to understand why Wes would be more lenient with his brother than he would likely be with another member of the community. At the same time, the memory adds greater dimension to the nature of the conflict between the men. They are arguably only united in Minneapolis because they are...