Character Analysis - Wesley Flashcards
Firstly we learn about Wesley through…
… David, the narrator and Wesley’s son.
We learn that he is sheriff of Bentrock. This position was…
… handed down to him by his father Julian. “It would never occur to my father to refuse.” From this we learn that he was bullied by his father and tries hard to please him.
David tell us Julian…
“Wanted, needed power.”
Through David’s narration we learn…
… that David is disappointed by his father’s role as sheriff. He doesn’t dress like a sheriff, carry a gun or even wear a badge.
Wesley doesn’t have to dress like a sheriff or take his gun everywhere with him because…
… 1948 was, “A blessedly peaceful era.”
Gail (David’s mum) is also disappointed in Wesley because she wanted Wesley…
… to practise law away from Bentrock and the Hayden family.
Through David we learn that Wesley limps from a knee injury (a horse kicked him) which prevented him from…
… going to war. He is an impressive man in many regards but in comparison to his brother Frank; doctor, war hero, “Nothing glittered in my father’s wake the way it did in Uncle Frank’s.”
We learn from Wesley that…
… it is easy to abuse power if you stand to lose everything you love.
Wesley’s character development continues when Watson shows us…
… how he reacts to a situation.
When his Sioux Indian house keeper Marie Little Sodlier is sick and refuses to see his brother Frank, Wesley learns…
… from Gail, that she is scared of him because he has molested his American Indian patients. “He takes liberties. Indecent liberties.”
We understand from Wesley’s immediate reaction that he is…
… a racist. “She’s an Indian. Why would she tell the truth?”
Wesley doesn’t want…
… to know about Frank’s crimes “I wish you hadn’t have told the sheriff.” Loyalty to his family is more important.
Wesley doesn’t want to know about Frank’s crimes, because…
… of his loyalty to his family, he knows its important to protect the family name. “Hayden gave me a measure of respect I didn’t have to earn.” “Frank said he’d cut it out.”
Watson uses a flashback when…
… David recalls memory from Frank’s bachelor party. When
