Blog #3: Freewrite

Freewrite on one of the most intriguing themes that you have encountered so far this semester. You need not analyze them (unless you wish)--you can write whatever you want about them. Your entries and two comments are due by Friday at 11:59pm. Remember that posts should be between 250 and 300 words in length and that each comment should be approximately 100 words in length. Also, make sure that your comments are critical--don't just tell the author how much you love his/her post, or how much you agree with him/her. Use your comments to push the writer to expand his/her thinking.

Teardrop's Transformation

In the movie Winter's Bone the hopelessness and isolation of drug addiction and mental illness is apparent in the personality of Ree's Uncle Teardrop. Nearly every encounter Ree has with her drug addicted uncle included verbal and physical abuse along with the temptation of using drugs. The comment Teardrop makes in the last scene of the movie while playing the banjo about not playing as good as your Daddy also suggests there was competition between brothers.  

In the final scene of the movie, there was  a sense of calmness  by the family being able to get back to a routine by doing their chores, caring for the family pets, and playing.  When Teardrop comes to visit this time he brings baby chicks for the children symbolizing new life and a new beginning.  Although the conversation is limited and there are times of silence, Teardrop's open body language is more welcoming.  This is the first time no drugs were offered to Ree and her was not violent toward her.  

When Ree brings out the banjo which has been kept in excellent condition, Teardrop begins to play and is able to remember happier times with his family. He was offered to take the banjo with him but decides to leave it for when he comes back which is a sign he wishes to repair the relationship with his family.  His family loyalty becomes apparent when he saves Ree from being beaten further by the women.  This was the turning point for him.   

As the movie ends, Ashley who appears to be a " natural" at playing the banjo plays for them showing there is hope for the next generation that people can survive under the worst circumstances.     

Ree's Strength

The character I chose was Ree. She is tough and she shows this throughout the movie. There were multiple scenes in which I could have close read. I chose to close read a scene that I think showed her as a tough young woman. This scene stood out to me because I tried to put myself into her shoes and I could not. That was when Ree was cutting wood showing how even though she is a young woman she is tough enough to go outside and chop wood for her family so they will have heat. Then the police officer pulled up and asked where her dad was and since Ree's mother wouldn't respond to the police officer he went back out of the house and told Ree that they could lose the house if he can't find her dad and that he was “cooking again” and Ree insisted that she didn't know where he was but that she would find him. That shows to me that she is tough willing to go out on her own to find him in the wilderness that takes guts. You could also see in that scene the tough look she had on her face as if to say get off my property I will deal with my father. She showed her strength in not only her words but also in the way she presented herself. Throughout watching the film it got me thinking that I really couldn't live like that and it made me appreciate Ree and that she could do all that she did.

 

 

Chasing the Impossible

Ree grew up in a less advantaged part of Missouri with a father who has a drug addiction. We can easily see that at the young age of seventeen, Ree was forced to grow up fast; she takes care of her younger siblings and her mother. This alone can emphasize the courage that Ree holds. Ree’s courage is highlighted in the scene when she seeks her mother’s advice. With tears in her eyes, she requests that her mother look at her. Her mother, with her chin to the sky, ignores her. Desperation in this scene shows that Ree has been strong for too long. Ree’s tone shows that she has reached her breaking point of searching for her law-breaking father alone and needs help. I think this also shows her courage, however. Although she has admitted that this situation is too tough for her to handle, isn’t that hard to do? We can assume that Ree has been handling things on her own for the majority of her life, so her coming to her mother was very mature of her. She recognizes that her progression with finding her father and saving her family’s land would be much higher if she just asked for help. She knows that she will not get this from her mother who has been deemed “driven crazy,” but she still utilizes her mother as a potential solution. She is making sure that she is exhausting all of her resources, because her families land and health is completely in her hands.  

Man of Few Words

In Winter’s Bone, there’s one character who does not get much screen time. Due to this, he also does not have very many lines. The positive feature of this dilemma is that he really does not need to say much for the viewers to know about his personality. This character is Ree Dolly’s uncle Teardrop. There is one particular scene in which the viewers of the movie can see his personality as well as his particular approach to gaining knowledge.

            Earlier on in the movie, Ree was warned to stay away from Thump but natural, because it would not be a movie otherwise, she does not. As a result, she is beaten up by Thump’s wife and her sisters. The scene where Teardrop’s personality shows pretty clearly is right after this. He comes to the bloody girl’s rescue. The door opens and there Teardrop is; he just stands there silently for a moment, sizing up everyone in the barn before demanding to know where his niece was with his gravelly voice. The scene continues with him only saying things when he needs to. Throughout the scene, Teardrop gives the others really deep, inquisitive looks. Teardrop does not need to say much or ask that many questions (or more demanding answers in the case other characters in this movie) to gain any kind of knowledge. Teardrop is a man of few words and, as a result of that, he is an observer. He can gain all the information that he needs just from looking at other people’s faces.   

Courage and Determination

In the movie Winter’s Bone, the main character Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is the one who is responsible for her mother and her two younger siblings. They were later informed by a police officer that they are going to lose their home and property because their father put it up for bond. Ree’s only option to save her family from losing their home was to either to find him or prove to the court her father is actually dead. Throughout the movie Ree has proven that she is determined to find him to save her family. She continues to search for information by questioning friends and family. The scene in the movie that really portrays Ree’s personality to acquire knowledge was when she decided to return to her Aunt’s place after being told to not return and to drop the search for her father. Once spotted by her Aunt Merab, she and others hit her and then drug her into the barn (52:45). When she came to from her blow to the head she was then questioned by Thrump Milton and others. She had the courage to explain her situation to them letting them know that she feels she is forced to find her father to save her family. Many people in that situation would have just cried and apologized for showing up but Ree Dolly clearly proves she is determined and won’t ever give up no matter what the outcome is.

"Give a man a fish"...

            Ree Dolly, in Winter’s Bone, displays a great amount of courage, resilience, and compassion. Specifically, in the scene where she is showing her younger siblings how to hunt squirrels, Ree’s personality really shines. This particular scene, Ree really proves that she has had to grow up well before most other ladies her age. This scene opens up with the three of them, sitting in the woods in the dark. Ree shows her siblings the ropes of hunting squirrels to cook up for dinner. Though Sonny is yearning to hunt for a deer, Ree informs him that it’s not time to hunt deer that you must do so early in the morning, or late at night. This really shows the amount of knowledge that Ree has about providing for her family. Waiting diligently, Ashlee finally spots their dinner. Ree pulled up on the squirrel and asked Ashlee to help her pull the trigger. A few seconds pass and then BANG! Together, they got dinner. This really shows the amount of compassion she has for her siblings. There is a saying, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Ree took the opportunity to teach an invaluable lesson to her siblings instead of simply going out and shooting some squirrels by herself. After they’ve gathered their bounty, they head home to the picnic table where Ree then teaches them how to clean the squirrels for cooking.

                Ree is patient, she tells them step by step how to properly skin a squirrel. Instead of doing it in a hurry, she takes the time to show them how it’s done. Once the squirrel is properly skinned, thanks to Sonny’s quick learning, she tells him to rip out the guts. Despite Sonny’s apprehension, Ree gives him maybe the most valuable lesson yet, “There’s a bunch of stuff that you are going to have to get over being scared of.” Not only did Ree show them how to hunt, clean, and prepare dinner, she also took the time to teach him a life lesson.

                Throughout the entire film, Ree displays a copious amount of courage, resilience, and compassion. She shows this several times, in several different scenarios but this scene in particular seemed to stick with me longer than others. Ree is an amazing individual and she has to overcome several devastating obstacles but she does so with nothing but devoutness to her family.  

Ree's Determination

Throughout this story Ree is constantly searching for answers and is repeatedly mistreated because of it. There is no doubt that the corruption that she seeks to uncover doesn't want her sticking her nose into their business. One reason is because she fails to hold back on questions concerning her father, which eventually comes back to effect her in many negatives ways. From mistreatment to just being downright beaten for curiosity, it truly was amazing to see how she was able to keep going. However, this simply comes down to her determination. Ree is by no means a quitter and she proves this countless times.

I thought the scene where Ree questions Teardrop was one of the better examples of her determination. Teardrop really seems to try and put the fear of God into her as he answers her firmly no and even puts his hands on her face. I feel like teardrop is kind of trying to protect her in a way by scaring her himself instead of having her keep looking and find deeper trouble. Whatever the case his actions you think would greatly affect her and her determination in finding out where her father is. However, this is not the case. She still persists on looking for him and eventually does find him. Her overall actions really are fasciniating. Even though her life is constantly thrown into turmoil but she never gives in.

Ree is a Bad Ass

Ree is a bad ass. Not only does she care for her younger brother and sister and her mother at the young age of seventeen, she does not take no for an answer. Throughout the movie she shows this in multiple different scenes. I think that her determination plays huge part in how Ree acquires her knowledge. In one particular scene, Ree goes to talk to Thump Milton and is ultimately turned down, but she does not give up. Her stubbornness and determination to find her father leads her to find Thump and confront him herself. After several events and getting beat up, Ree eventually gets her way and is led to where her father’s body is.

Throughout the movie, Ree is trying to acquire knowledge as to where her father may be. It is ultimately her determination that allows her to gain the knowledge that she needed.

Hardend

   Everything from the setting to the characters in the Winter's Bones seemed to be cold, worn down, and harsh.  The men are controlling and the women were obedient. Most of the people in this film I would consider to be weak, except for Ree.  Ree stood out from the rest of her family and relatives, she was by no means a weak individual. 

       Compared to the other women, Ree is not easily controlled by the men in this film not because she isn't afraid of them she feel's she doesn't have a choice she must do whatever it takes to take care of her younger siblings and mentally ill Mother. 

 I really saw the strength that Ree has when she tells Sonny that "there is a bunch of stuff that you are gonna have to get over being scared of" when gutting the squirrel. Ree knows that their life is hard and he needs to be strong to get through it.  That scene to me is similar to when Ree holds the hands of her dead Father so they can be cut off and used as evidence of he death. Getting through this traumatizing experience she know she has to get over being scared because this evidence is vital to Ree and her family so they do not become homeless.  

A small part of Winter's Bones said a lot to me. When Ree was teaching her younger brother and sister how to shoot the guns, she doesn't say she is teaching them to hunt. Instead Ree says she is teaching Sonny and Ashlee how to survive. Ree is a good example that in a hard life you have no choice but to toughen up and do anything to survive and protect what is important to you.    

 

In a world of her own

The scene starts out with Merab and Sonya pounding on Rees front door. The door swings open and Ree comes out with a shotgun ready to shoot them for what they have done to her. She immediately jumps down there throat as to why they are there. Merab and Sonya are trying to convince Ree to come with them and that they have something to show her. Ree is very weary and dosen’t want to go with but she ends up going to with them. Even though Ree has no idea where she is going she knows this is the only way that she is going to be able to keep her house. Ree is the leader in the household and had learned this throughout time that she need to be rock in the house since her mother is no longer a functioning person. The scene now directs itself to Ree getting out of a car blind folded and she is then prompted by Merab that she may know where she is at and that if she does she better not remember it. The Merab, Sonya and Ree all get in a canoe and go down the stream to a certain point. Merab tells Ree that her dad’s body is right in front of them and for her to just reach in a grab his arm. Ree hesitates for a bit wondering if this is the right thing to do and then she reaches in searching around for her father’s hand. She reaches around for a bit but eventually finds it and pulls his hand out of the water. Merab tells her to take the saw and cut his hand off for the police. Ree objects and says “no”. Merab follows up by saying “your daddy would want you too”. Sonya interjects “she can’t do it Merab”. Merab then tells Ree “to hold his arm out straight child”. Merab takes the chainsaw and slowly cuts threw the arm as Ree is holding his arm in shock with her mouth wide open. I believe that this seen shows how committed she is to her family and that she has learned this through the type of environment that she grew up in. That she needed to defend and do everything for her family or they wouldn't last. 

Ree Dolly

It is astonishing what anyone can do when it comes to survival or  when life  is threatened. In those moments, they are somehow able to employ a level of courage, perseverance, and high intention that they never knew they had. The character I chose that fits that description would of course be Ree  and the scene that helps portray this, is when she gets beaten up by the women. She went around asking questions she shouldn't have about her father and because of that, her mom and thumps wife, along with the other women beat her up.  She knew what she was risking but yet didn't care. The scene at the end where her mom and thumps wife show up and tell Ree that they will take her to her dad's bones also proves that she is brave and doesn't want to give up because she knows she has to be brave for her brother and sister. That scene intertwined with the beating scene and proved Ree's perseverance to find her dad because she went off with the same people that beat her and didn't know where she was going because she knew this is what she would have to risk and she did it.  Ree never gave up and didn't care what it was going to cost her because she had to save the house because of her little brother and sister. 

Ree's Determination

I want to analyze the scene where Ree asks Teardrop where her father is. I would say that Ree has a very persistent personality and is outspoken about her feelings. I think her persistence comes from her love and dedication to taking care of her family. When she asked Teardrop if he knew anything about where her father could be, it seems like he knew something but wouldn’t tell her. Ree cares about her family, and I think that is why she said something he could react to emotionally. For example, when she reminded Teardrop that her father is his only brother, as though she is trying to tell him he should care about where he is.

Ree tells him to listen, to what I assume would have been a clarification to how important it is for her to find him or for Teardrop to ask the other guys. Teardrops reaction was controlling or showing superiority, as many of the men in this Film seem to be. He says no, as if he will not ask other people for her, but it seemed he like he was either choking her or at least had his hand firmly on her face. I think this is a good portrayal of Teardrop’s feelings for his brother and Ree’s safety because he knew what would happen if she went to ask other people. So I think Ree’s strong willed personality is what allows others to see the urgency of her situation, even though they don’t seem to react well to it.  Even when others treat Ree horribly as a result, she doesn’t react or show any real signs of weakness.

Squirrels, Chainsaws, and Devastation

At one point in The Winter's Bone right after Ree gets beat up, there is a black and white scene of squirrels in trees and the non-digetic sound of chainsaws grinding down those trees. When watching this for the first time, I found it pointless and out of place. However, I still had an unsettled feeling about whatever the director's idea for the scene was. After a second viewing, I made a connection with this scene to another shocking moment in the film. Every piece of that scene is symbolic in one way or another. Trees, which are squirrels' home, were being destroyed as the chainsaw brought them down. In another scene later in the film, Ree has to hold onto her father's hands while a chainsaw cuts them off. I connected the two scenes on the level of destruction. In both scenes, a chainsaw is what destroys something extremely important. The chainsaw resembles the collapse of someone's life, whether it be the squirrels or Ree. The black and white color scheme is indicative of sorrow and blankness. In the scene with Ree, the movie has a cool color scheme that fits well with the sad, devastating event that is happening. After close reading an unfamiliar scene, I was able to reveal a hidden meaning behind it that contributed to the meaning of the story.

 

A Thirst For Knowledge

       

In the movie there are multiple scenes where a person is looking for information a thirst for the unknown. In the movie the person who shows the most out of that need to know was Ree Dolly a teenager who was responsible for her mother and two siblings. After finding out that the family was going to lose their home because their father put it up for his bond, Ree went out to find her father. A perfect scene that shows Ree’s determination and courage to help her family and support them is when she was ambushed at the house of Thump. After she was warned multiple times to leave it alone, Ree’s passion to find her dad’s bones was undeterred. She went to that house anyway. The beating she received from her aunt and 2 other women shows the lengths that Ree was willing to go too in order to get some answers. She knew how dangerous her family could be, but went anyway. After she woke from the injuries in the barn she saw Thump who was the big man in the gang. H said, “If you have anything to say child. You best say it now.” Ree had the mental strength and courage to tell him exactly what was going on with her and her family and to ask for help when she didn’t know what else to do. Even though the odds were against her she still stood her ground. She knew she had to find her father and even if they weren’t going to help her she was going to figure out a way. Ree was a bright girl whose only interest was for her siblings and mother. In order to receive the unattainable knowledge she knew she couldn’t give up.

Enter: Ree

I chose to analyze the opening of this film.  As the title comes onto the screen, the background is an open field, filled with dead grass, crooked trees, rusting metal, and trash.  The following shot is of two children playing, with a broken cabin behind them.  As the children skateboard, jump on their trampoline, and play with their dogs, you understand that is all they know.  They are content with their living situation because they have never seen or experienced anything better.  I quickly noticed the brief camera shots highlighting aspects of their living: tires scattered across the lawn, car seats used as benches, and everything seems dirty.  Throughout most outside scenes, gun shots could always be heard in the background, and the children never thought twice about it.  They grew up hearing those sounds, living the way they do.

Ree's entrance provides immediate insight into her personality.  Her first scene is of her hanging laundry out to dry as the kids play.  She is seen brushing her mother's hair and making a meal out of potatoes for her family.  From the first few scenes of the film, you know that Ree grew up the same way.  She faced the same struggles, but still tries to do the best for her family.  She showed care and attention to her little brother and sister, as a mother would.  Ree knows her own mother is not in the position to take care of a family and took the initiative.  Not far into the film, Ree gives up her horse because hay is too expensive and the money needs to go towards her family.  It appears she even gave up school to take care of the home (she is seen in the school dropping the siblings off, but only peeking into classrooms).  Because of her pride and care towards her family, Ree stops at nothing to gain the knowledge of what happened to her father in order to keep their home and land.  

“Get Them Guts Out”

I chose to analyze the character of Ree Dolly in Winter’s Bone in the scene where she is teaching Sonny and Ashlee how to hunt squirrels.  I felt that this scene showed Ree’s character and the depth of her love and commitment to her siblings.  The scene opens with a shot of the dark, dead woods.  Ree, Sonny, and Ashlee are quietly sitting in the woods waiting patiently for a squirrel to come by to shoot for food.  Sonny says that he wants to hunt deer but Ree tells him that it is not the time for deer.  Ashlee spots a squirrel and whispers to Ree.  Ree asks her to help pull the trigger.  When the hunting is over, they take the squirrels back to a picnic table near the house to prepare them for cooking.  

She then begins to teach them as she skins and guts the squirrels.  Ree cuts the skin and asks Sonny to pull hard to remove it.  She then tells him to, “Get in there and get them guts out.”  Sonny says, “I don’t want to.”  Ree looks him in the eyes and says, “There’s a bunch of stuff that you are going to have to get over being scared of.”  Sonny says that he isn’t scared, he just doesn't want to.  Ree then takes his hands in hers and says, “Come put your fingers in there.  Good.”

In the film, Ree’s love for the children is constant.  She uses everyday activities as an opportunity to teach them.  Ree has a strong sense of loyalty and devotion and treats the children with respect and patience.  For example, she takes Sonny’s hands to gently help him get over his fears. She puts her siblings’ needs before her own.   

I think that this scene shows Ree’s personality and how her deep love and devotion for the children help her to overcome her own fears in order to acquire the knowledge she needs to find her father.  Ree will have to reach her own hand in to the pond to pull out the hands of her dead father’s body.