Consequences

Ree Dolly is only seventeen-years-old, her upbringings have forced her into the role of a parental figure for her younger siblings in the absence of her mentally ill mother and now with the sudden disappearance of her father Jessup who have given up their family home, it has only made it harder for her to continue her duties. Ree raises her siblings without any support, not only does she parent the kids she also takes care of her mother due to her decline on mental health. Ree becomes the primary caregiver, provider, and protector for her family, embodying a parental role far beyond her years. Ree lives in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, she's a Dolly, and there are many Dolly's that live in the area who are her "family" who have been there for generations however, though related by blood they fundamentally lack the bonds a families would typically hold. The Dolly's don't support nor do they look after one another, not even a favor well be satisfied amongst one another. By no means is this normal to the average reader however to the Dolly community they see nothing wrong with it. This shows that the the community way of living have been like this for far too long for them to even bat an eye to realize it's abnormal. The Dolly community it tainted with violence and crank. Male or female violence is the answer in the community. Ree must find her father to ensure the family house remains however, when she goes out to ask other Dolly's and people from the community no one is willing to help. When Ree went to Thump, the one who's most likely to know Jessup whereabouts he refused to even let alone speak to her about where Jessup might be, and this is a family member. Ree in anger shouts out to his wife " So, come the nut-cuttin', blood don't truly mean shit to him. Am I understandin' right? Blood don't truly count for diddly to the big man? Well, you can tell the big man for me I hope he has him along, long life fill of nothing but hiccups'n the runs, hear? You tell him Ree Dolly said that" (Woodrell 63). Going out to ask for aid even lead Ree to be beat by Thump wife and her sister those who are of her her own blood. The determination to find her dad to prevent the house from being taken not only reveals Ree's commitment to her family but also emphasizes the lengths she is willing to go to fulfill her parental obligations.The Dolly’s community paints a raw and unflinching picture of a community plagued by the consequences of poverty, drugs.

Similarities between Ree and Jojo

 In Daniel Woodrell's novel "Winters Bone", we are introduced to 16 year old Ree Dolly. The reader immediately learns how Ree is a responsible young woman who is taking care of her younger siblings. I immediately felt as if we had read a similar story in class, and then realized that there is a strong connection between Ree Dolly, and Jojo from Jesmyn Ward's "Sing, Unburied, Sing". 

    First off, the age of the two characters are similar. Jojo and Ree only have a three year age gap, with Jojo being 13, and Ree being slightly older at 16 years old. The responsibilities that these two teenagers face are honestly quite similar. Due to Ree's father being missing, and her mother having a severe mental illness, she is the primary caretaker of her two younger brothers. In chapter 25 of the novel Ree states “I got two little brothers who can’t feed theirselves…My mom is sick and she is always goin’ to be sick. Pretty soon the laws’re takin’ our house away n’throwin’ us out…to live in the fields…like fuckin’ dogs. The only hope I got to keep our house is I gotta prove Dad’s dead". Ree has stepped up and taken on the role as the primary caretaker in her household. This is similar to Jojo as he is the caretaker of his baby sister Kayla. Jojo and Kayla have a close relationship as he does his best to protect her and keep her safe and healthy throughout Ward's novel. 

    The two also struggle with broken family relationships. In "Winter's Bone", Ree's mother is permanently ill, and her dad is nowhere to be found. Even though surrounded by the large Dolly clan, Ree's family is still broken because her intermediate family life is nothing near perfect. Jojo also has a broken family relationship as he is not close with his horrible mother Leonie, or his estranged prisoner father Micheal. Both Jojo and Ree realize that in their messed up family, someone has to step up and take charge. 

Mothers, Daughters, and Hardships in the Ozarks

     Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone is a story that captures the destitution of Appalachia, one of the poorest and most isolated regions of America. The novel narrows in on the life of Ree Dolly, a 16-year-old girl from the Ozarks navigating a life riddled with poverty, drugs, and violence, all while being the sole caretaker of her family. She’s responsible for her two brothers, Sunny and Harold, and her mother, Connie, who she often describes as crazy. According to Ree, Connie’s “mind didn’t break loose and scatter to the high weeds until (she) was twelve”(27). Her sudden decline in mental health begins once she’s blindsided by her husband's infidelity. Woodrell writes It was “around that time when she learned about Dad’s girlfriend”. Since then, Connie’s mind has completely shut down. She rarely speaks or leaves her rocking chair. Paralyzed by her mental illness, Connie is even unable to dress herself and regularly relies on Ree to help her with her clothes. 

    Her condition of permanent brain fog is heightened by her frequent pill popping. Nowhere in the novel is the name of the medication identified, but Connie is described as being most reserved after ingesting what seems to be prescription drugs. Woodrell writes, “Mom’s evening pills did not tamp her as far down inside herself as the morning pills did”(17).

    Because her mental illness prevents Connie from being a functioning mother to her children, Ree is forced to fill her shoes. As she struggles to stand the pressure of saving her household from certain doom, she grows more frustrated with Connie, who’s unable to help her in the slightest. Ree grows desperate and turns to her mother for help. She pleads, “Mom, I need you. Mom—look at me…I’m going to need you to help. There are things happenin’ that I don’t know what to do about”(92). Ree’s hopes are extinguished as Connie does nothing but stare into the sunset. Woodrell writes, “ her soul was sincerely given over to silence and the approximate refuge offered by incomprehension”(92). In response to her mother’s overwhelming emptiness, Ree “pulled her to her feet, and arm in arm they started the darkened walk downhill to home”(92).

    This interaction between the two shows that although Ree is frustrated with Connie, she’s empathetic towards her. She describes her mother as “thoughtless' '(14)  and “lost to the present”(9) as if she’s given up hope for her recovery, yet still regards her with great gentleness and care. This is because at only 16 years old, Ree is mature enough to realize her mother’s illness is a response to the traumas she’s endured living in Rathlin Valley. When Gail prompts Ree to tell her mother about the trouble she faces,  Ree says, “It’d be too mean to tell her. This is just exactly the sort of shit she went crazy to get away from”(68). Ree knows that life in Rathlin Valley is hard enough to make anybody want an escape from reality. It’s for this reason that her moments of frustration with Connie are followed by gentleness and care. It’s why she makes the effort to carefully dress her mother,  brush her hair,  and take her on walks in the woods, even though Connie hasn’t been nurturing toward any of her children in years. Ree doesn’t blame her mother for her incomprehension, her reliance on her pills, or her endless silence. 

Their relationship is evidence of the cycle of suffering that exists in areas like Rathlin Valley, the kinds of areas that fracture families and rob children of their childhood.

Sweetness in Bitter Winter

The pages of Winter’s Bone are dominated by harshness: a cold, unforgiving landscape, community, and fate for the protagonist, Ree. There is relief from this overarching misfortune in the relationship between Ree and her best friend: Gail. Of the many names the Dollys call each other, “Sweet Pea”, Ree’s pet name for Gail, is singular in its affection. Though only teenagers, the girls are adults in this story. We can infer that their upbringings were standard for their community: impoverished, and neglected by drug-addled parents. They didn’t finish their education and are haunted by the limiting, but demanding, gender roles the town enforces. This rearing left them without any idea of unconditional love and healthy intimacy. 

Gail’s husband is unfaithful to her, but requires her to raise their children and behave the way he wants. Ree’s absent father and cruel male relatives continually diminish her character and are physically violent towards her. When Ree and Gail are together, though, their interactions are described with a distinct goodness and tenderness. They pick burrs out of each other's hair and massage each other’s aching limbs. They play house, happily pushing a grocery cart together and taking refuge in each other's homes. 

Later, we learn they have a genuinely romantic relationship, whether or not they think of it as such. Gail was Ree’s first kiss, under the guise of practicing for being with a man. This was not a one time occurrence: “there came three seasons of giggling and practice, puckering readily anytime they were alone” (87). Given the status quo of the community in Winter's Bone, it would not be a stretch to say homosexuality would be an unacceptable taboo, but they both cling to their love in an otherwise unnurturing world. 

    Gail, unlike Ree, has a husband and child. Her obligation to them takes precedence over the comfort Ree provides. Ree offers to take Gail and her child away from her husband, allowing them to all live together. She wants this arrangement for herself and Gail, confronting her: “You didn’t like it? You’re gonna tell me you didn’t like it?” (160). Their tumultuous lives will keep them from having either a conventional friendship or relationship. However, their love, as unconditional as either of them will ever know, will remain. At the beginning of the novel, Ree leaves Gail’s trailer, saying: “I’m always for you, remember.” (36). Woodrell writes that the "bone" in Winter's Bone refers to a gift. For Ree and Gail, love threw them a bone by giving them each other.

Familial Bonds: Similarities betweeen Katniss Everdeen and Ree Dolly

While reading Woodrell’s “Winter’s Bone,” Ree’s strong and caring character reminded me distinctly of Katniss of Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games”. They share a profound connection in their unwavering commitment to protecting their siblings and fighting for their families to survive. Despite the contrasting settings of their stories, Ree and Katniss both exemplify resilience fueled by a deep love for family.

Though Ree and Katniss traverse vastly different worlds - regional gothic and dystopian fiction - their stories converge at the crossroads of sibling protection. Both protagonists are thrown into situations where family love becomes the driving force behind their actions. Their resilience becomes a universal language, illustrating that the determination to shield family transcends societal boundaries. Ree and Katniss, though separated by genres, Ree and Katniss resonate deeply with readers, embodying an unwavering spirit that emerges when love becomes a guiding light in the darkest times.

For example, Woodrell provides us with background about Ree’s situation and how she serves as a maternal and paternal figure for her mother and siblings at only sixteen years old. The reader is shown her underlying motivation as the narrator explains, "Ree's grand hope was that these boys would not be dead to wonder by age twelve, dulled to life, empty to kindness, boiling with mean" (Woodrell 8). This shows a profoundly caring and responsible mindset, not only worried about the boys’ safety and comfort now but also about the security of their future. In the freezing cold, she chops wood so they do not freeze, cooks and provides whatever food she can, and ensures that her two little brothers are ready for school - responsibilities usually reserved for older adults. She was forced to grow up and, as a result, displayed a heightened level of maturity.

This character differs from Collins’ as Katniss does have a mother figure and contributes to the family by showing her love for her little sister and hunting for the family. When her sister is called to participate in a deathly competition, she volunteers herself. While these two instances of Ree providing care for her family and Katniss volunteering for her sister are different, they both depict that these two characters are incredibly mature and show how traditional familial roles can adapt to transcend hardships.

Relationships and Love in Winter's Bone

  There are many ways to express one’s feelings and love towards others- as is evident in the novel Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell. Ree Dolly, the main character of the book, shows her love differently based on who she is interacting with. Towards her brothers and her mom, she is oftentimes the parental figure. She shows how much she cares for them by nurturing them and attempting to break the cycle of drug abuse and violence in order for her brothers to live a good life and takes care of her mentally ill mother. Ree displays this by teaching her brothers, Sonny and Harold, how to shoot, skin animals, and how to take care of themselves once she is not with them. For example, after witnessing the issues in her community, Ree takes the boys to learn how to shoot and tells the boys “Now’s when you boys start learnin’ how to shoot guns at what needs shootin’,” (Woodrell 78). Although she can seem cold and distant at times, when it really matters she is always there for her family. 

        Not only does Ree show her love for her brothers, she consistently shows her love for Gail, in a much different way. Although there are times when their relationship is nurturing for one another, oftentimes Ree and Gail’s relationship is much more equal and balanced. It is evident that when they are together they feel comfortable enough to relax and be their authentic selves. Ree takes care of Gail by supporting her through her tumultuous marriage with Floyd. Even though Ree knows there is nothing she can say or do to make Gail leave Floyd, she is still by Gail’s side whenever she needs her.

Ree Dolly is a complex character who has much versatility in her relationships and how she shows her affection. This makes her a more realistic and relatable character in the novel and aids the story’s development. Her character successfully displays to the audience the different ways one can show love to people who are important to them.

The Spectrum of Drug Usage in Winter's Bone

Daniel Woodrell’s novel, Winter’s Bone, tells the intense journey of stubborn Ree as she sets out to run down her estranged father, Jessup, for his upcoming court date. Taking place in the Ozarks, the reader follows Ree’s journey as the season turns to harsh winter. It is made clear that Ree’s community values shared blood and independent strength. Her large family, particularly those with Dolly blood, make their living on the drug they refer to as “crank.” Drug usage in the novel ranges from medicinal to abusive, and it is the large portrayal of drugs in this novel that call so many messages to the surface. One moment in the novel that stuck out to me occurs soon after Ree learns her father has put the house up as his bond. She visits Jessup’s brother, Uncle Teardrop, and asks if he has any clue about her father’s whereabouts. Uncle Teardrop does not provide any real information and instead flips out on Ree, telling her she is best off staying out of it. As Ree gets up to leave Uncle Teardrop’s wife, Victoria, asks Ree, “Want me to roll a doobie for your walk?” (27). I admit that when I first read this, I had to laugh a bit. Her aunt and uncle provide nothing of value to Ree, not even with her livelihood on the line, but at least they can roll one up for her freezing walk home. The only consolation Ree’s own blood has to offer is a quick smoke, and Woodrell amplifies the gravity of Ree’s situation through her family’s unwillingness to help. 

Similarly, drugs within the novel function as an escape for the characters. At one point in the novel, Ree needs strong painkillers, and she thinks about the various kinds of pills available to her, “[B]lue ones shut you down to an utter smooth blackness … [S]he reached down to the floor bedside, shook loose another blue, and lay back waiting on black,” (162). Laying back and waiting for the black to wash her away, our heroine struggles beyond her physical pain. Another theme not well understood by the characters in this novel, and therefore drawing larger attention to it, is the battle of mental health. Although Ree does not battle addiction, she is susceptible to the slippery slope that it is due to her circumstances, and I think this point in the novel reflects why members of Ree’s family and community cannot escape. Winter’s Bone characters do not want “to be awful” but moral compasses lose direction when a stronger pull pulses in such a small community. 

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Another thought to expand on is how weather serves as a “mood ring” for the novel. So much of our environment is out of our control and Winter’s Bone takes a deep look into the idea that people are a product of their environment. The power of a midwestern drug empire and dreary sky are far from motivating, but Ree’s journey continues, nonetheless. Drugs numb the mind, cold chills the bone, but neither stifle Ree’s spirit. I am curious if anyone else has connected drugs to the weather and what their thoughts on this are.  

Coping Through Escapism

     In the novel, Winter’s Bone, written by Daniel Woodrell, the theme of escapism is at the forefront of understanding the work as a whole. Escapism in this novel takes many different forms, whether that be emotional, physical, or social. The manifestation of escapism is largely due to the rough conditions in which they live in, as well as the widespread presence of illicit drugs, namely methamphetamine, that impacts every character in the novel. 

The protagonist in this novel, Ree Dolly, utilizes escapism in order to cope with the harsh realities of her life. Since a rather young age, Ree was forced to assume the caretaker role in her family, both for her younger brothers and for her mother, whose mental illnesses seem to incapacitate her entirely. The lack of a parental figure in her life takes a mental toll, which explains why she must find some type of escape through sounds. The novel says, 

Ree needed often to inject herself with pleasant sounds, stab those sounds past the

constant screeching, squalling hubbub regular life raised inside her spirit, poke the

soothing sounds past that racket and down deep where her jittering soul paced on a stone

slab in a gray room, agitated and endlessly provoked but yearning to hear something that

might bring a moment’s rest (Woodrell 10). 

Ree’s situation clearly induces constant mental unrest, which requires escapism as a tool to cope. Ree likely would not be able to keep her composure and function properly if it were not for these integral, albeit short, moments of induced peace, which emphasizes the importance of escapism in the novel. 

In addition to the emotional escapism that Ree utilizes, escapism is also seen strongly within the people of the Missouri Ozarks, who largely depend on the production of methamphetamine in order to make a living. Not only is meth widely produced, but it is also very commonly used, so much to the point where it is considered to be the societal norm. When describing the relationship between Ree’s father and meth, Sheriff Baskin, says “‘Shit, Jessup’s just about the best crank chef these Dollys and them ever have had, girl. Practically half famous for it’” (14). The casual manner in which the sheriff discusses the production of meth suggests a long history of the usage and making of meth in this region. It has become so normalized that even law enforcement acknowledges it as the norm. This then further suggests that the presence of meth in this community has induced a dangerous cycle of addiction, poverty, and violence. Because people are unable to physically escape the restraints that this cycle perpetuates, they fall back to the use of illicit drugs as a form of escapism, which demonstrates a strong reliance of escapism in order to relieve themselves of the unpleasant reality that they are currently living in.  

 

Tenderness comes in many forms

 In Woodrell's novel, Winter's Bone, we see many sides to the main character Ree Dolly. More particularly, how she shows her tenderness towards different people. When it comes to her brothers, Sonny and Harold, she constantly cares for them. She takes care of them through teaching them life skills  because she wants a better life for them. For example, "Ree's grand hope was the these boys would not be dead to wonder by age twelve, dulled to life, empty to kindness, boiling with mean" (8). She hopes that if she takes care of them properly they will not end up in the same illegal family business. Another lesson she teaches her brothers is how to take care of their mom, Connie. She tells them "might could mix you some later-- but now you watch this. Watch how to do her hair" (40).  Although she doesn't tenderly care for them, she cares enough to want more for them in their life. She hopes that they have a better life than her. Ree's tenderness is quite different towards her best friend, Gail. Unlike with her brothers, Ree shows affectionate tenderness towards Gail when she embraces her throughout the novel. After Gail finds out that her husband is cheating on her she comes back to Ree, "she held the shotgun swaying low and leaned to kiss the crown of Gail's head . . . I knew you'd get back to yourself'n show up for me" (80). Throughout the novel, we see how Ree and Gail's relationship is from the very beginning. When they are driving down to Reid's Gap, Ree reminisces about their childhood together, "the first time Ree kissed a man it was not a man, but Gail acting as a man" (87). Their relationship currently is almost as close when Gail's husband leaves her for coming home too late. After that happened, "Ree waved her inside and threaded through the  to bed and crawled yawning under the heavy quilts"(101).  Throughout the whole novel, Woodrell's shows how Ree's tenderness is different towards different people. She is continuously caring for her brother's by teaching them skills to help themselves and their family. Meanwhile, her tenderness towards Gail is more affectionate and prominent as they've been friends for a long time. 

Ree and Her Brothers

    From the first page of the novel, Ree is portrayed as a self-sufficient, strong, and intelligent girl. She recognizes the cold weather approaching and makes note of cutting firewood and moving the clothesline inside, so the clothes do not freeze. Her little brother comes out onto the porch and notices the meat hanging from the trees across from their house. He says, “’Maybe tonight Blond Milton’ll bring us by one to eat’” (Woodrell 5). Immediately, Ree grabs him by the ear and twists it tight, reminding him to never ask for things that are not offered. This is just one of the many important lessons Ree teaches her little brothers. As time goes on and Ree’s mother falls deeper into her illness, proving to no longer be a suitable caretaker, and she struggles to find her father, Ree decides she must begin teaching her younger brothers valuable lessons. These include how to cook simple meals, shoot rifles, skin a squirrel for food, and fight. All these lessons are taught with tough love, Ree states, “’Harold, get your butt down here. You don’t wanna make me run after you. You truly don’t. Get down here now’n squat beside me. Close your eyes if you want, but get your goddamn fingers in there’n yank out them guts” (107). Ree is very firm and unwavering in her demands for the boys. She understands that Harold is squeamish and does not want to rip out the squirrel’s guts, but the skill is more important than any reservations he may have. She will go to any lengths, like running after him and possibly hurting him, to get him to learn how to survive on his own. While some may not agree with this style of teaching, Ree’s circumstances force her to be stern with her brothers. With their father dead and their mother ailing, if the boys lose Ree they will have no immediate family and no one to take care of them. Therefore, Ree shows her tenderness and care for her brothers by preparing them for the worst. As she mentions in the beginning of the book, she does not want the boys to be “dead to wonder by age twelve, dulled to life, empty of kindness, boiling with mean” (8).  She has aspirations for them and wants a better life for them than the people they are surrounded with. Thus, she proves to be a mature caretaker by recognizing the circumstances of their lives’ and teaching the boys important, but difficult lessons, showing her care for the boys through her persistence and dedication to helping them survive on their own.

Meaning Behind the title "Winter's Bone"

 

The novel “Winter’s Bone” by Daniel Woodrell is filled with imagery that invokes images of vast and dreary winter landscapes that are meant to be daunting and deadly backdrops for all of the events that unfold. From the very first pages in the book, Woodrell describes the scene where we meet the main character, Ree, with, “snow clouds had replaced the horizon, capped the valley darkly, and chafing wind blew so the hung meat twirled from jiggling branches” (Woodrell 3). This scene not only highlights important information about Ree, as she is taking care of the rest of her family despite the brutal coming winter, but also emphasizes the direness of the situation the Dolly family is about to find itself in. But what I think is most interesting about the setting is that the coming winter is ultimately what forces Ree’s hand to work as hard as she can to find her father, Jessup.

               Without the impending doom of winter, being kicked out of her house with her mother and two younger brothers would still be an awful outcome, but certainly wouldn’t be the death sentence that Ree sees it as. She says in many sections of the book that she has to find her father, lest they be thrown out of the house “to live in the fields… like dogs. Like fuckin’ dogs,” (134). This quote comes from her brief conversation with Thump Milton after she had been beaten and the collective families were debating killing her for seeking information. Not only does this illustrate details about Ree’s character and determination, but it underlines her driving force; without help, her family will not survive the winter. It is ultimately this driving motivation that allows Ree to overcome her obstacles and the families that stand in her way, as she is able to save her family. This is the “bone” that winter is tossing to her. It is a bleak way to look at the situation (maybe even a little sarcastic, according to Woodrell himself), but it does help illustrate that this story does not carry as much weight if it were in another setting. “Winter’s Bone” needs to be set in the vast, empty, tundra-like Ozark winter to help explain Ree’s seemingly unending conviction.

Gender roles in "Winter's Bone"

In Daniel Woodrell’s “Winter’s Bone,” the reader is introduced to multiple Dolly family units that conform to traditional gender roles. Victoria, Uncle Teardrop’s third and fifth wife, is a traditional housewife, serving Ree coffee and comforting her in the face of her husband’s anger. Her lack of power in their marriage can be seen when after an argument with Teardrop, Victoria comes back with her head lowered and apologetically conveys Teardrop’s decision not to help Ree find her father. This same dynamic can again be seen in Gail and Floyd’s relationship. Gail takes on the sole responsibility of raising their son while Floyd works and has a blatant affair, knowing that Gail is unable to leave him. She is also in a situation where she is largely unable to make her own decisions, even having to ask her husband’s permission to take the car — an act of submission that Ree finds upsetting, telling Gail, “It’s just so sad … to hear you say he won’t let you do somethin’, and then you don’t do it,” (Woodrell 35). 

Ree’s criticism of Gail’s marriage structure proves that she, at least to some extent, doesn’t accept traditional gender roles in her own life. Because of Jessup’s absence in Ree and her brother’s lives, Ree is forced to take on roles traditionally accepted as fatherly – teaching her brothers how to hunt and fight, bringing home food and money, putting herself in danger to protect her dependents, and representing their family among other Dollys. Her position at the head of her family separates her from what is traditionally accepted as the role of a woman. However, the novel also provides instances where Ree conforms to the female gender expectations, as she is the one to cook, raise her brothers, wash their mother’s hair, and become their overall caretaker.  

The balance between male and female roles is exemplified in the clothing choices of the characters. Victoria “had a closet that held no jeans or slacks but was stuffed with dresses—” women’s clothing that carries a connotation of weakness and femininity (21-22). Ree, on the other hand, “nearly always wore a dress or skirt, but with combat boots,” (20). The dresses being hand-me-downs from other Dolly women highlights the traditional female roles placed on her by society and her family, while the contrast of the combat boots illustrates Ree’s strength and practicality, and her decision to take on the duties of the man of the family as well as the woman.

Revealing Tenderness through Teaching

 

In Winter’s Bone, Ree Dolly proves herself to be a mature caretaker and teacher of her little brothers by teaching them essential life skills while also tending to motherly duties for the boys. She teaches the boys about cooking, handling firearms, and fighting to prepare them for life if she must leave them. At times, Ree is commanding of the boys much in the same way a parent would be. While teaching the boys to field dress a squirrel she says, “I mind. Harold, get your butt down here. You don’t wanna make me run after you. You truly don’t. Get down here now’n squat beside me. Close your eyes if you want, but get your goddam fingers in there’n yank out them guts” (107). She commands her little brother to take the guts out of the squirrel himself, and he complies. This is evidence that the boys view her as a valuable teacher who they should willingly listen to. The motherly duties for the boys are also her responsibility because her mother is mentally ill and unable to take care of anybody. She cooks meals for them and prepares them for school. Numerous times in the novel she tells the boys to go catch the bus to school indicating she values their education.

Ree does not express tenderness towards her family in a traditional way. She doesn’t coddle her little brothers or constantly shower them with praise. Instead, Ree’s tenderness towards her family is demonstrated by the lengths she’ll go to in order to secure their home, land, and livelihood. Living in a rural Ozark community creates tough people who do not express their feelings like most others. Following her father’s disappearance, Ree hardly takes the time to process the fact that her own father is dead. She is more concerned with how to take care of her family. She is driven to find her father’s remains primarily by the fact that they will help her keep the land and house. The novel says, when Ree first grabbed her father out of the water, “She tugged until she saw an ear, then turned her head and puked at the willow. She did not let go as she spewed” (185). Notably, she doesn’t cry at the sight of her dead father but instead pukes like she is just grabbing a random corpse. While the scene clearly disturbs her, she continues to hold onto the body because she knows its evidence that will help save the home for the family. These acts of commitment to the good of the family are how Dollys and others from the community show tenderness to the ones they love. Ree’s final act of tenderness to the family is her decision to stay with them at the end of the novel instead of going out on her own. She has already done so much for them but wants to stay so she can do more.

A Better Future: Ree as a Parental Figure in "Winter's Bone"

    Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone is an ominous fiction work that explores family dynamics. With a mentally ill mother, an unreliable drug-dealing father, and two impressionable younger brothers, sixteen-year-old Ree is thrust into adulthood and responsibility. As the novel progresses, Ree becomes the sole caretaker and provider for her family. In Winter’s Bone, Ree’s persistent efforts to pass on life skills to her brothers and her desire for her brothers to live healthier lifestyles than other men in the community highlight Ree’s position as the primary parental figure in her family.

    While teaching her brothers necessary survival skills, Ree is often tough on her brothers, but they respect her authority. Ree treats her brothers like adults to prepare them for the harsh environment in which they live. For example, when Ree cooks dinner, she commands, “Haul them chairs over here and stand on ‘em with your eyes peeled and watch every goddam thing I do. Learn how I make it, then you both’ll know,” (Woodrell 19). Here, Ree insists that her brothers watch her cook. Additionally, Ree uses a stern tone with her brothers. Ree’s use of “goddam” emphasizes how crucial it is for her brothers to watch her prepare the food. Since cooking is an essential skill, and Ree is committed to educating her brothers on survival, Ree finds it imperative to pass on her cooking knowledge. It is clear that Ree’s ultimate goal in sharing skills with her brothers is to prepare them for self-sufficiency and success in the future. 

    Ree’s parental role in her brothers’ lives is magnified not only by her desire for her brothers to be self-sufficient, but her hope that her brothers can have superior futures than typical community members. The standard lifestyle of residents in Ree’s community consists of violence and drug abuse. Therefore, in hopes of helping her brothers avoid unnecessary violence, Ree educates her brothers on shooting guns. For example, after witnessing the prevalent danger in her community, Ree declares, “Now’s when you boys start learnin’ how to shoot guns at what needs shootin’,” (Woodrell 78). Again, Ree assumes the parental role by teaching her brothers how to shoot, which is a critical skill in their community. More importantly, the italicized “needs” highlights that Ree helps her brothers understand when shooting is necessary. Here, Ree instills values into her brothers by explaining that violence is not the only option. Ultimately, Ree’s condemnation of needless violence and commitment to improving her brothers’ future lifestyles asserts Ree’s position as a devoted parental figure for her brothers.

    Throughout Winter’s Bone, Ree assumes an essential parental role in her household by instilling vital survival skills in her brothers. Furthermore, Ree earns the position of a committed parent through her desire for an improved future for her brothers. Although Ree was forced into the parental role, Ree raises her brothers to the best of her ability by passing down her knowledge. In Winter’s Bone, Ree is not only a parent but an admirable parent.

Love Through Action in Daniel Woodrell’s Novel Winter’s Bone

Love is seen in almost every form of media a viewer consumes whether it be television, movies, books, or other form. The emotion is impossible to escape and most often it is portrayed romantically. However, romance is not the only way love can be experienced. Winters Bone by Daniel Woodrell portrays what love within can look like in a chaotic environment. While Ree never specifically says she loves her brothers through her action she establishes just how deeply her care for them goes. 

Readers see Ree teach her younger brothers survival skills such as hunting and cooking throughout the novel so that one day they will be able to live on their own. She shows a very tough love exterior when it comes to her brothers making sure the two learn what they need to even when they may not want to learn it, which readers see when she is teaching her brothers how to gut a squirrel. “Harlod, get your butt down here. You don’t wanna make me run after you. You truly don’t. Get down here now’n squat beside me. Close your eyes if you want, but get your goodman fingers in there’n yank out them guts” (Woodrell, 107). While this may seem a little harsh she is looking out for her brother because she can understand that this is something he needs to learn even if he does not want to. She knows she must be harsh for the greater good but does understand it may be hard for him which is why tells him that he can close his eyes if he needs to. Ree also teaches the two how to wash their mother's hair in case there is a point when she is not around and they have to do it. Ree is less harsh when teaching the boys this due to it not being as important of a skill as hunting. “As the vinegar smell spread and Ree bent over Mom yet again, both boys quietly slid from the counter and made for the front of the room and the worldly dog. Ree watched them go” (40). Ree does not force her brothers to watch the very end of her washing their mother's hair and lets them go watch their show. While she could be harsh to them she instead lets them go watch their shows. She is aware they should know how to do this but they do not have to know how to do it which is why she allows them to leave the lesson. 

Love can be seen in many different forms whether it be in a friendship, romantic relationship, or between family members. Love is unique and the environment in which it is fostered can influence how it is portrayed. In Winter’s Bone Daniel Woodrow shows what a necessary tough love between siblings can look like. Ree loves her brothers and will do what is best for them, even if at some moments it may come off harsh.

Ree & Gender Roles

     Ree’s experiences in “Winter’s Bone” defies the traditional gender roles deeply entrenched in her society where men are often seen as the primary providers and decision-makers while women are expected to conform to certain domestic roles. We see this dynamic through Floyd’s character when Gail asks to use the car to help Ree out and says “He won’t let me drive” and “It’s different once you’re married” (page 35). She just accepts the fact that Floyd’s making decisions for her and doesn’t even try and fight it. With Gail we also see that she’s the only one concerned about Ned’s well-being and is really the sole caretaker of him, which further emphasizes the gender roles in society of women being the nurturing type, doing domestic chores.

    At first glance, Ree seems to defy traditional gender roles in her determination to find her father and support her family. She takes on responsibilities typically associated with men, such as taking care of her family, navigating dangerous situations, and confronting the harsh realities of her community. Her actions challenge the stereotype of women being confined to domestic spaces and passive roles. She doesn’t rely on male protection defying the traditional notion of female vulnerability. She has the mindset of if I don’t do it myself, “[h]ow else is it goin’ to happen?” (page 127). Ree assumes leadership and responsibility for her family, which transcends the boundaries of traditional gender roles. Her actions prioritize the well-being of her siblings and the preservation of her family's home, challenging the notion that only men hold the role of protectors and providers. She’s also not afraid to talk back and refuses to be intimidated or silenced by the powerful figures in her community and persists in her quest despite the risks and consequences.

However, despite her defiance of traditional gender roles in some aspects, Ree doesn't entirely reject them. We get this mixture of masculine and feminine characteristics on the first page of the book when Woodrell described her as wearing “a fluttering yellowed dress” and “combat boots” (page 3). She demonstrates immense strength and resilience while also embodying some traditional nurturing qualities often associated with women. She cares deeply for her family, especially her younger siblings, and takes on a maternal role in their upbringing, which aligns with societal expectations. We also see the one chapter of vulnerability with her and her mother, begging for some guidance from her. This section I think was an extremely important aspect to her character, showing that “[t]here’s things happenin’ that [she] don’t know what to do about” (page 118). It reminds readers that she is really just a little girl sprung into this mess trying to figure out everything and although she appears to be this tough mature woman, she does need her mom. Despite her moment of vulnerability, Ree toughens up and confronts the challenges before her, embodying a resilient spirit in the face of adversity.