Hour 6 Wes Hayden
Values & moral
The ways of Wes
His moral was to override his family loyalty and take his brother into custody
- Wes dislikes Indians, but denies it and you can see that through his words.
-“He believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, were ignorant, lazy, superstitions, and irresponsible” (34)
-“They’re not going to make it into the twentieth century until they give up their superstitions and old ways” (42)
-“This isn’t about family”; my father said “This is a legal matter.” (116)
- He believed that the law will do its job no matter what the issue is.
-“I wish you wouldn’t have told the sheriff” (48)
- David believed his dad was prosaic because of what he does.
-Wes was “stolid surely, steady and dependable. But inevitably, inescapably dull” (36)
- Grandpa Hayden values Wes Hayden as a child
- “I suddenly felt sorry for my father not as he stood before me at that moment, but as a boy.” (115)
- Grandpa Hayden has very little respect to Wes because of his actions and how he is not a hero like Frank.
- “You investigating?”
- Wes believed his brother is innocent until proven guilty.
-“He does thing to them? I’m sure he does things to all his patients” (47)
Personality
The Ways of Wes
Wes is a family man. (15)
Caring and courageous. (15)
He is the sheriff of MercyCounty, but didn’t really want to be and his grandfather pushed him into it. (16-19)
Gail Hayden didn’t want Wes to be a sheriff either. (19)
He was born in 1910 in MercerCounty grew up on large cattle ranch outside Bentrock. (20)
Moved into Bentrock in his 20’s. (20)
Held Indians in a low regard, didn’t hate them. (34)
Racists towards Indians, his stereotypes were that they were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible. (34)
Forbid David to wear moccasins. (34)
Lacked athletic grace. (36)
Tall, broad shouldered and pleasant looking. (36)
Very stern in his decision making. (46)
Had a bad leg. (38)
Doesn’t believe Marie at first because she is Indian, (46)
He is straight to the point and up right with people when he is talking to them. (49)
Physical appearance
The Ways of Wes
“His right leg V-D in” (16)
When he was young he got his leg kicked by a horse which gives him the look of a person who has a gimp.
“He wore a shirt and tie, as many of the men in town did, but at least they wore boots and Stetsons, my father wore brogans and a fedora.” (17)
When he walks he walks with a lim. Since he has a limp it makes him look like he is very weak and not able to so much of anything. Most people in the town think he doesn’t look much like a sheriff.
“With his bad leg, bending was difficult. He had to keep his leg stiff and vend from the waste.”(64)
This quote says that when he does almost anything he must keep his leg stiff and in a straight line in order for him to do anything.
“He was tall, broad shoulder man, and pleasant looking.” (64)
It shoes that he was strongly built man who was very pleasant looking.
Extra information
Wes is Caring and courageous, doesn’t like to upset people.
“So my father set aside his fledgling law practice and took the badge my grandfather offered. It would never have occurred to my father to refuse.” (21)
Wes was somewhat racist towards Indians and held them in low regard, however never disrespected them or mean towards them.
“Nevertheless, he believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible.” (34)
Wes was very strict and stern, especially while making decisions. He always thought his way was the best way to do things, unless proven wrong.
“I waited for my father to explode, to shout a defense of his brother, to scream a condemnation of Marie and her lies. Instead, he said as quietly as before: “Why are you telling me this?” (48)
When Wes is interacting with other people he is very up tight and speaks his mind.
“And Marie. For God’s sake, you know how she likes to make up stories. She’s been filling David’s head with them for years. She’s got a great sense of drama, that one—“ (46)
Wes is very family oriented and always tries to stick up for his family, and liked to help others stick together with their family.
“My father kept the gun but in fair exchange bought the man a bus ticket to Billings, where he had family.” (18)
His occupation is the head Sheriff of Mercy County; however this is not what he wishes he would be doing. His father was the sheriff before him and Wes did not want to let his father down, so he continued the duty. Gail, his wife did not want him to be sheriff either, rather continue with his law studies and eventually move out of Montana.
“My mother fervently believed that my father-indeed, all of us- would be happier if he practiced law and if we did not live in Montana, and her reasons had little to do with the potentially hazardous nature of a sheriff’s work compared to an attorney’s or the pay scale along which those professions positioned themselves. She wanted my father to find another job and for us to move because only doing those things would, she felt, allow my father to be fully himself.” (19)
He still lives in the same county he grew up in. He was raised on a large cattle ranch and was always near his family.
“My father was born in 1910 in MercerCounty and grew up on a large cattle ranch outside Bentrock. In the early twenties my father, with his parents and his brother, moved to Bentrock, where my grandfather began his first of many terms as county sheriff.” (20)
Wes was seen as un-athletic and never could take part in sports/games due to his bad leg.
“but with an athletic grace my father lacked.” (36)