The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a film that depicts the story of two aplha male cowboys. One, Tom Doniphon, the 'good guy' ends up taking care of a lawyer who is badly injured, Rance Stoddard. The other alpha male, Liberty Valance, the 'bad guy' whips Stoddard and anyone else who crosses his path. Doniphon tries to teach Rance how the law of the west doesn't involve the study of law rather the law of the gun. He tells Stoddard "You'd better start packing a handgun.....I know those law books mean a lot to you but not out here. Out here a man settles his own problems."(896) At first Stoddard fights Doniphon and refuses to carry a gun. However, in the end, he realizes that it's not only best to, but it's a necessity when he has to stand up to Valance.
Matheson describes in her article many ideas about the west that were also played out in the movie. She tells us that the law of the gun is the only law that is followed out in the West. This is shown throughout in the film in both of the alpha males. Even though they both carry a gun and use it, we tend to view Doniphon as the good guy and Valance as the bad guy even though they both follow the law of the gun. The difference, is that Doniphon is protecting the people from Valance. He is using his gun to bring about justice.
Matheson also tells us that the West turns people who are normally law-abiding citizens into those who carry a gun and break the law. This was seen in the movie through Stoddard who at first was adamant to carry a gun. However, in the end, he does and was believed to kill Liberty Valance.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a film that depicts the story of two aplha male cowboys. One, Tom Doniphon, the 'good guy' ends up taking care of a lawyer who is badly injured, Rance Stoddard. The other alpha male, Liberty Valance, the 'bad guy' whips Stoddard and anyone else who crosses his path. Doniphon tries to teach Rance how the law of the west doesn't involve the study of law rather the law of the gun. He tells Stoddard "You'd better start packing a handgun.....I know those law books mean a lot to you but not out here. Out here a man settles his own problems."(896) At first Stoddard fights Doniphon and refuses to carry a gun. However, in the end, he realizes that it's not only best to, but it's a necessity when he has to stand up to Valance.
ReplyDeleteMatheson describes in her article many ideas about the west that were also played out in the movie. She tells us that the law of the gun is the only law that is followed out in the West. This is shown throughout the film in both of the alpha males. Even though they both carry a gun and use it, we tend to view Doniphon as the good guy and Valance as the bad guy even though they both follow the law of the gun. The difference, is that Doniphon is protecting the people from Valance. He is using his gun to bring about justice.
Matheson also tells us that the West turns people who are normally law-abiding citizens into those who carry a gun and break the law. This was seen in the movie through Stoddard who at first was adamant to carry a gun. However, in the end, he does and was believed to kill Liberty Valance.