Amanda Kary: Shane Discussion

I agree that most of novel explored the idea of men taking charge of their situation. I also think this novel does an a good job of highlighting the fact that men are defined by what they do, a fact that is well exhibited by Shane's comment about Wilson's gun. What I  find interesting is how Shane arrives at the Starrett home and just decides to become involved in the dispute with Fletcher. It seems almost foolish to me for a man to ride around the West looking for an way to prove himself. I don't see the same foolishness in Joe however who at least had a vested interest in his land. As Marian points out on page 177, "It would just kill Joe to lose this place ...But he promised me this place when we were married. He had it in his mind for all the first years." Given what the land means to Joe I respect him wanting to go out and stand up for himself and defend what is his. With Shane, I see it as more of a need to seek out a way to prove himself, which I think speaks to Shane's need to prove that he is a man.