Julian and His Son Wesley

Julian and his son Wesley in Larry Watson’s “Montana 1948”
In the novel “Montana 1948”, the father and son, Julian Hayden and Wesley Hayden, are quite different in term of personal trait. Julian Hayden loves power and likes to be conspicuous, while Wesley Hayden is meek in using power and likes to be self-effacing. Julian exerts his power to achieve what he desires , while Wesley obeys his conscience to do what he should do. Their different views and uses of power shape the different responses to Frank’s crime. The differences exists between the father and son determines the inadvertent conflict and the tragedy of Hayden family.
Julian Hayden is the first person in Hayden family who served as sheriff in Bentrock because he “needed power” (20). He is a “dominating man who drew sustenance and strength from controlling others” (20). He loves power and is good at keeping it. Mercer County has a Statute that “a sheriff could serve only ...