The film Rooster Cogburn clearly has a dominant alpha male figure of the same name, but also shows Eula Goodnight as a very strong individual with beliefs and the ability to take care of herself. The film, made in 1975, reflected the changing attitudes toward women during the time it was made. With the equality and women’s rights movements taking place in full force, Eula’s character was necessary to represent the strong female image that was rising. Rooster expresses an important statement about women towards the end of the film, “she is what she is ‘cause that’s what she wants to be”.
Eula holds some typically feminine values and characteristics throughout the movie, most notably being her religion. She always has a bible quote handy, and lives by the Lord’s word (generally disproving of the alcohol Rooster is often seen with). She prays over the fist man she kills. Eula is educated, which she shows when helping Rooster with his transaction records that he was certainly struggling with. She recognizes a man’s physical dominance, for example when she put up a big fight about leaving her town, until Rooster made it clear he was willing to use brute force. She then simply replied “oh” and went to pack up. One of the most characteristic feminine traits that Eula holds whole heartedly is that of talking…a lot. In the end though, it is her talking, nagging, and manipulation of words that gets Rooster his job back.
For every way that Eula is a conventional “other” character, there are more examples of her redefining the role. She grew up independent, and feels no need for a man or a family – and so she is dependent on no one. She is not weak, never crumbles. Even when Hawk is shooting at her feet, she does not flinch nor stop reciting her prayer. She decides to follow Rooster on the ride, and she does, despite multiple protests. She is able to hunt a fine bird, when the men are only able to get an owl and possum. Another key difference is that not only does her wit outmatch any of the men she meets, but she can wield a weapon with as much skill as them as well. She even masters the big gun when they were surrounded by Hawk’s men. It is her keen shot that saves Rooster’s life at one part of the film. Eula is not the typical western “other”, she is a strong, independent character who does not bow down to the will of the alpha, and has no problem telling him her thoughts (even if they’re that he’s dirty and drunk). As Rooster said, she’s got more backbone than femaleness, and she always gets the last word – to the very end.
The film Rooster Cogburn clearly has a dominant alpha male figure of the same name, but also shows Eula Goodnight as a very strong individual with beliefs and the ability to take care of herself. The film, made in 1975, reflected the changing attitudes toward women during the time it was made. With the equality and women’s rights movements taking place in full force, Eula’s character was necessary to represent the strong female image that was rising. Rooster expresses an important statement about women towards the end of the film: “She is what she is ‘cause that’s what she wants to be.”
ReplyDeleteEula holds some typically feminine values and characteristics throughout the movie, most notably being her religion. She always has a bible quote handy, and lives by the Lord’s word (generally disproving of the alcohol Rooster is often seen with). She prays over the fist man she kills. Eula is educated, which she shows when helping Rooster with his transaction records that he was certainly struggling with. She recognizes a man’s physical dominance, for example when she put up a big fight about leaving her town, until Rooster made it clear he was willing to use brute force. She then simply replied “oh” and went to pack up. One of the most characteristic feminine traits that Eula holds whole heartedly is that of talking…a lot. In the end though, it is her talking, nagging, and manipulation of words that gets Rooster his job back.
For every way that Eula is a conventional “other” character, there are more examples of her redefining the role. She grew up independent, and feels no need for a man or a family – and so she is dependent on no one. She is not weak, never crumbles. Even when Hawk is shooting at her feet, she does not flinch nor stop reciting her prayer. She decides to follow Rooster on the ride, and she does, despite multiple protests. She is able to hunt a fine bird, when the men are only able to get an owl and possum. Another key difference is that not only does her wit outmatch any of the men she meets, but she can wield a weapon with as much skill as them as well. She even masters the big gun when they were surrounded by Hawk’s men. It is her keen shot that saves Rooster’s life at one part of the film. Eula is not the typical western “other”, she is a strong, independent character who does not bow down to the will of the alpha, and has no problem telling him her thoughts (even if they’re that he’s dirty and drunk). As Rooster said, she’s got more backbone than femaleness, and she always gets the last word – to the very end.
The stronger presence of Eula as a female character forces the alpha male character to be redefined. The alpha male cowboy is certainly still there, however he is not the traditional template by any means. He must make way and accommodate this new female presence that becomes common in the revisionist films.