The films High Noon and The Ballad of Little Jo stand out from the typical western film genre due to the stronger, more dominant roles the woman have and how the focal point shifts from the men to the women. In High Noon, Will Kane’s newlywed wife Abby could be seen as strong as she questions her husband’s actions and pleads otherwise, leaving him with an ultimatum to leave with her or she leaves without him. But, when Will chooses to stay, Abby does not end up leaving. Thus, Tompkins would argue that Abby is not a strong female character because “When push comes to shove, as it always does, they crumble” (Tompkins 61). However, Helen Ramirez proves to be the dominant female in this film as she is a strong, successful businesswoman who is independent and has also been with the three main men in the movie: the young Harvey, the heroic Will Kane, and the villain Ben Miller. Helen has no problem speaking her mind, especially when it is to put down men. She calls Harvey a “good looking boy” but tells him that he will never be a man like Kane and that he won’t make it. During this whole debacle with the town and Ben Miller’s arrival, Helen plans to flea not because she is afraid for her life, but because she is certain Kane will die as will the town, thus she decides to leave survive economically. Also, when speaking with Will, Helen tells Will he should go, but when he says he can’t, Helen just simply replies “I know,” showing her understanding of Will and his duty. Likewise, in The Ballad of Little Jo the lead character Jo (short for Josephine) shows masculine characteristics when adapting to the life out West.
After being shunned from her home for having an illegitimate baby, Josephine travels West where she quickly discovers that a woman with no man is fair game. On her journey, she begins to dress like a man wearing pants and adds the effect of toughness by carving a scar on her cheek. Of course Josephine is seen as a feminine man, evident by her nickname Little Jo, but is such a strong character for her struggle to earn respect and put on such an act that lasted the rest of her life. Tompkins might even argue that Jo is not a strong female character, but instead is actually a strong male character for she does not speak her mind or her feelings, she does not let everybody in, and she is never seen as vulnerable. Although she shows women tendencies like when she saves Tinman Wong and takes him in as her servant, but eventually becomes his lover after he figures out her secret. Overall, Little Jo portrays a strong female character, as she shows courage, strength of will, and emotional suppression.
Nonetheless, Helen Ramirez and Little Jo from High Noon and The Ballad of Little Jo are major stepping-stones for women in the western film genre and their ability to be depicted as strong, dominant individuals.
The films High Noon and The Ballad of Little Jo stand out from the typical western film genre due to the stronger, more dominant roles the woman have and how the focal point shifts from the men to the women. In High Noon, Will Kane’s newlywed wife Abby could be seen as strong as she questions her husband’s actions and pleads otherwise, leaving him with an ultimatum to leave with her or she leaves without him. But, when Will chooses to stay, Abby does not end up leaving. Thus, Tompkins would argue that Abby is not a strong female character because “When push comes to shove, as it always does, they crumble” (Tompkins 61). However, Helen Ramirez proves to be the dominant female in this film as she is a strong, successful businesswoman who is independent and has also been with the three main men in the movie: the young Harvey, the heroic Will Kane, and the villain Ben Miller. Helen has no problem speaking her mind, especially when it is to put down men. She calls Harvey a “good looking boy” but tells him that he will never be a man like Kane and that he won’t make it. During this whole debacle with the town and Ben Miller’s arrival, Helen plans to flea not because she is afraid for her life, but because she is certain Kane will die as will the town, thus she decides to leave survive economically. Also, when speaking with Will, Helen tells Will he should go, but when he says he can’t, Helen just simply replies “I know,” showing her understanding of Will and his duty. Likewise, in The Ballad of Little Jo the lead character Jo (short for Josephine) shows masculine characteristics when adapting to the life out West.
ReplyDeleteAfter being shunned from her home for having an illegitimate baby, Josephine travels West where she quickly discovers that a woman with no man is fair game. On her journey, she begins to dress like a man wearing pants and adds the effect of toughness by carving a scar on her cheek. Of course Josephine is seen as a feminine man, evident by her nickname Little Jo, but is such a strong character for her struggle to earn respect and put on such an act that lasted the rest of her life. Tompkins might even argue that Jo is not a strong female character, but instead is actually a strong male character for she does not speak her mind or her feelings, she does not let everybody in, and she is never seen as vulnerable. Although she shows women tendencies like when she saves Tinman Wong and takes him in as her servant, but eventually becomes his lover after he figures out her secret. Overall, Little Jo portrays a strong female character, as she shows courage, strength of will, and emotional suppression.
Nonetheless, Helen Ramirez and Little Jo from High Noon and The Ballad of Little Jo are major stepping-stones for women in the western film genre and their ability to be depicted as strong, dominant individuals.