The film Red River may be viewed to have two alpha male cowboys. Thomas Dunson and Matthew Garth both exhibit some qualities that an alpha male may have, but only one truly fits the description created by Tompkins and Matheson. To start, it is clearly demonstrated after Matt returns to the ranch back from war that he can draw a gun almost as quickly (if not as quickly) as Dunson. That kind of speed and skill is highly valued in the alpha male. “Only the fittest, the strongest … those who … draw a gun faster than anyone else”(Matheson 891) survive. The gun drawing skill is shown a few times later on in the movie as well, such as when Matt shoots one of the rebellious riders before Dunson does, in order to save his life. Both men abide by the law of the gun, though Dunson more regularly uses the power that such a law provides – shooting down anyone who opposes him.
Both men “prove their courage to themselves and to the world by facing their own annihilation.” (Tompkins, 31) Neither Matt nor Dunson shy away from a fight in the film. Dunson doesn’t even flinch when threatened by the two men come to tell him he can’t have the land for his own, he simply shoots before shot. Matt, even as a boy, stands up to the much older Dunson when they first meet and Dunson could have easily done him harm. He and Dunson are also both morally responsible as they should be. “Men are men because their behavior is fundamentally ethical” (Matheson, 899). Dunson always ensures that men are given a proper burial, and that fair wages are paid. Such as when Dan Ladamer was killed in the stampede halfway through the trail – Dunson still made sure Dan’s wife would receive wages for the full trail, as well as a pair of red shoes that she wanted. Matt, even though he stole the cattle and the men from Dunson, did it because he thought it was best. After selling the cattle, he had the check written out in Dunson’s name. Each man followed his own moral center, and tried to do what was right by his own standards.
Even though these shared alpha characteristics exist, there are a few fundamental qualities of the alpha male that only Thomas Dunson poses. “The hero’s fanatic devotion to duty” (Matheson, 889), his fierce perseverance is demonstrated by both men in their strive to get the cattle to the destination. However, only Dunson’s determination could be classified as “fanatic”. He pushed himself, his men, and his horses (wearing through multiple ones) to the limit in order to reach a far off dream. Matt still showed remarkable perseverance, but he did ultimately decide to travel to the closer destination for the sake of the men. Finally, an alpha male cowboy’s place is with the land, “far from town…far from any outside help, the solitary man, with only nature at his disposal….” (Tompkins, 81) is how the alpha lives. Dunson has no problems being on his own, and when in a group, demonstrates antisocial behavior that strikes fear into the other men, not friendship. Matt can never be this solitary. He is often shown eating and talking with the other men, as well as having a relationship with Tess Millay. The true alpha has the land as his woman, as his everything. Therefore, Thomas Dunson – the man whom most everyone both feared and respected, is the true alpha male in Red River.
The film Red River may be viewed to have two alpha male cowboys. Thomas Dunson and Matthew Garth both exhibit some qualities that an alpha male may have, but only one truly fits the description created by Tompkins and Matheson. To start, it is clearly demonstrated after Matt returns to the ranch after the war, that he can draw a gun almost as quickly (if not as quickly) as Dunson. That kind of speed and skill is highly valued in the alpha male. “Only the fittest, the strongest … those who … draw a gun faster than anyone else”(Matheson 891) survive. The gun drawing skill is shown a few times later on in the movie as well, such as when Matt shoots one of the rebellious riders before Dunson does, in order to save his life. Both men abide by the law of the gun, though Dunson more regularly uses the power that such a law provides – shooting down anyone who opposes him.
ReplyDeleteBoth men “prove their courage to themselves and to the world by facing their own annihilation.” (Tompkins, 31) Neither Matt nor Dunson shy away from a fight in the film. Dunson doesn’t even flinch when threatened by the two men come to tell him he can’t have the land for his own, he simply shoots before shot. Matt, even as a boy, stands up to the much older Dunson when they first meet and Dunson could have easily done him harm. He and Dunson are also both morally responsible in their own ways. “Men are men because their behavior is fundamentally ethical” (Matheson, 899). Dunson always ensures that men are given a proper burial, and that fair wages are paid. Such as when Dan Ladamer was killed in the stampede halfway through the trail – Dunson still made sure Dan’s wife received his wages for the full trail traveled, as well as a pair of red shoes that she wanted. Matt, even though he stole the cattle and the men from Dunson, did it because he thought it was best. After selling the cattle, he had the check written out in Dunson’s name. Each man followed his own moral center, and tried to do what was right by his own standards.
Even though these shared alpha characteristics exist, there are a few fundamental qualities of the alpha male that only Thomas Dunson poses. “The hero’s fanatic devotion to duty” (Matheson, 889), his fierce perseverance is demonstrated by both men in their strive to get the cattle to the destination. However, only Dunson’s determination could be classified as “fanatic”. He pushed himself, his men, and his horses (wearing through multiple animals along the trail) to the limit in order to reach a far off dream. Matt still showed remarkable perseverance, but he did ultimately decide to travel to the closer destination for the sake of the men. He was far more rational, and stayed on the safer side of things. Finally, an alpha male cowboy’s place is with the land, “far from town…far from any outside help, the solitary man, with only nature at his disposal….” (Tompkins, 81). Dunson has no problems being on his own, and when in a group, demonstrates antisocial behavior that strikes fear into the other men, not friendship. Matt can never be this solitary. He is often shown eating and talking with the other men, as well as having a relationship with Tess Millay. The true alpha has the land as his woman and his friend -as his everything. Therefore, Thomas Dunson – the man whom most everyone both feared and respected, is the true alpha male in Red River.