Both Hiram and his abusive father were alcoholics; Jed's drinking dramatically changes his personality for the worse. Yet it becomes their livelihood. How do they deal with this contradiction? What do you suppose none of the Strong daughters drink?

Alcohol—particularly “moonshine”—is problematic for the Strong family. Both Hiram and his abusive father were alcoholics; Jed’s drinking dramatically changes his personality for the worse. Yet .. .it becomes the family’s livelihood during Prohibition. Shine even ends up slinging drinks at the Southern Club in Hot Springs to pay off a debt. How do they survive with this cognitive dissonance? And what does it say that none of the Strong daughters drink except for what the job requires?