However, his actions still tear the Land family apart. Reuben is continually question himself if the law is right that is following Reuben or if his brother was right to attack the men. He must look to his father to provide him with moral guidance, given that his mother abandoned the family when he was just a child. Eventually, Jeremiah finds another mother figure, a woman named Roxanna, as a surrogate, but the family is always clearly dominated by the father. The rightness of patriarchal authority is once again confirmed by the fact that Jeremiah is such a good single parent, although not by choice. Only occasionally does the utterly devoted, adorable youngest sibling, Swede perform 'wifely' duties, like cooking an elaborate Thanksgiving meal. There seems to be no real need for an equal, motherly presence.

Other than Davy's violent outburst, Jeremiah's children follow him with seemingly unflinching loyalty --...
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