Julian is the epitome of corruption and is the power broker in Bentrock. It is this excessive power which enables Julian to do as he pleases, and have the town community obey him without question. The crimes that Frank commits cause tremendous tension between the Haydens, as it sparks a tragic turn of events. When the corrupt father Julian finds out about Franks captivity in Wes’s laundry room, rather than his incarceration in the jail, he is appalled and orders his henchmen to free Frank from captivity. This underground course of action shows Julian’s corruption as he is prepared to sacrifice anything so his son and the Hayden reputation would not be damaged.
Furthermore, when Julian states “Is this why I gave you that goddamn badge? So you could arrest your brother?” shows the dishonesty behind the former sheriff, and portrays that the reason why Wes was given the position as sheriff was so he could keep the Hayden control over Bentrock, and ignore any law-breaking on a Hayden’s part.
Perhaps the event that displays the essence of corruption throughout ‘Montana’ is after Frank’s suicide. The funeral director Clarence Undset is brought into the conspiracy, to bury the truth about Frank’s death, and Marie Little Soldier’s cries for justice. “What bribes were offered, what deals were struck to secure Mr Undset’s silence, I never knew, but everyone seemed so confident that he would never reveal what he saw when he took Frank’s body away: the gashes on his wrist.”
Frank also demonstrates corruption as he sexually assaults Indian women. Frank uses his profession and status in the community to take advantage of and molest Indian women, knowing that they will not seek justice. “He offers his services to the reservation, to the BIA school. To the high school for athletic physicals. Then when he gets these girls where he wants them… He does what he wants to do.” Says Gail.
Whilst actions of corruption are prevalent throughout the novel, honesty is also a distinct theme. This is evident through the bringing to justice of Frank, and through the character of Wesley Hayden.
Wesley is an incredibly strong-minded character. He is able to stand up to his entire family, particularly Frank and Julian, just so justice can be served. This is apparent as inspite the magnetism of family loyalty and the pressures exerted by his father - “…you got him locked up here… this is your brother here. My son!” Wesley is able to see that his brother is “…as guilty as sin” and therefore, shows his honesty by ensuring that he is detained for prosecution.
Following Frank’s suicide, Gail Hayden’s inability to “…live with the lies concocted in the aftermath of Frank’s death” force Wesley, David and Gail to leave Bentrock to go to North Dakota, where Wesley becomes a lawyer and the three live the rest of their lives trying to ignore the smouldering family dispute of August 1948. It is clear that the corrupt actions of Julian and Frank Hayden drives the family away from the town as the honest and strong-minded Wesley Hayden and his family are “…dispossessed, the ones forced to leave Bentrock and build new lives.”
