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.
I agree that Ree must be stern with her brothers so that they will learn necessary survival skills for when they are older. Despite her harshness towards them at times, she is ultimately happy as long as they try to learn from her. This is apparent in your second example of teaching the boys how to wash their mothers hair. Another example that your post brought to mind was when Ree spends the night in the cave and comes home to her brothers’ “basketti” (Woodrell, 72). Even though Ree deems their food inedible, she goes ahead and makes them a new meal for breakfast. Since they have very limited food, this was a time where Ree could have been frustrated with her brothers, especially after having to spend the night in a cave. Instead, Ree appreciates their attempt and starts to make them better food. Ree’s tenderness to her brothers highlights the love that she has for them. Ree also refuses Blond Milton’s offer to care for one of her brothers when she is unsure if she will be able to keep their house. She says, “You son of a bitch. You go straight to hell’n fry in your own lard. Sonny’n Harold’ll die livin’ in a fuckin’ cave with me’n Mom before they’ll ever spend a single fuckin’ night with you” (77). Given the anger this suggestion causes her, she is very possessive of Sonny and Harold and wants to be the one to take care of them.
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