Winter Bone's, Ree By Debra Granik

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Made the surrogate mother of her twelve and six-year-old siblings, Ree Dolly challenges the social constructs of young motherhood, and learns to face the adversities that come with having “adult duties” in the unconventional, rural Ozark society. The main character in Debra Granik’s film Winter Bone’s, Ree, demonstrates that despite she’s been burdened with consequences not of her own fault, the love and protection she has for her family is not something she’s not willing to lose — even if that means amputating her deceased father’s hands. By reinforcing the concepts of “duty” in the film, Winter’s Bone juxtapositions the responsibilities of a “typical” seventeen-year-old in contrast to those of Ree in her journey of personal redemption, preserving childhood innocence, and forgetting the past.
One of the first notions of duty can be seen when Ree …show more content…

Although Ree knows that the family needs the meat, her statement suggests that she is trying to preserve the kids’ childhood innocence. It clear to see that both of the children idolize Ree is some way. Ashlee looks to her as a child would her mother — mimicking everything she does from folding the laundry, cooking the meals, and tending to the animals. Sonny looks to her for parental guidance and knowledge on how to survive, and her influence can clearly be seen on him when he asks about the meals, the way he tends to his younger sister, and the concerns he has when he asks Ree if she’s going to leave them to join the military. Under their observant eyes, Ree knows that they learn from her actions, and they may try providing for one another as she does or worry about their stability, but she doesn’t necessarily want that. She wants them to remain young and innocent and

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