Ree In Winter's Bone

Many books go through a heroine's journey, or a journey that ultimately ends in the character gaining a “boon” which could be a life lesson, information, an object, or anything else gained. In Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone, we see this heroine’s journey in perfect format. Ree goes on a journey to find her dad and ultimately comes back with a different boon. In the beginning of the book, Ree is very distant from her extended family, mostly because it is dangerous to associate with them, and even wants to leave her brothers for the army. However, Ree goes on a journey to Hawkfall and meets a lot of her long-lost family, gaining close connections with some, and learning from others. At first, Ree has no contact with her extended family

We see this change when he picks Ree up in the barn after her beating, and tells everyone “She’s my niece, and she’s near about all the close family I got left, so I’ll be collectin’ her now and carryin’ her on out of here to home” (Woodrell 137). After this point in the book, Teardrop starts getting really involved in the whole journey, telling Ree, “I’ll help you some, take your back so you can find his bones, but the deal is, even if you find out, you can't ever let me know who did the actual killin’ of my brother” (Woodrell 141). So, not only is Teardrop open to being Ree’s helper but him and Ree also gain a better relationship throughout the journey. Starting from him not wanting Ree to find his own brother to now helping her along the way. He helps by giving her rides, giving her information, and by being her protector because he says “If anybody lays even just one finger on that girl ever again, they better have shot me first” (Woodrell 138). Teardrop slowly advances to helping Ree in her journey and even encourages it, a big step from at first warning her from going at all. Although Ree and Teardrop have become close, Ree and Merab still have a tension between