Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Josh White: Shane Discussion
Before the climax of the novel, after Shane has knocked out Joe so he can ride into town alone, Marian asks him if he is facing Wilson and Fletcher for her. He says, "No, Marian. Could I separate you in my mind and afterwards be a man?" (Page 104 in my book). Shane is saying that it is more significant and thus more manly to fight for an entire family and their cause than to fight for a single woman. When he makes a sacrifice for the family, it is a matter of honor rather than a matter of social chivalry. Furthermore, if he were to abandon this path and act only for Marian, it would make him less of a man; it is often looked down upon when men change their minds or lack resolution.
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*it is often looked down upon when men change their minds or lack resolution.*
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure how I feel about this statment in Unforgivem when Ned dedcides to go back home he did change his mind and lack the resolution to kill again but I don't think he is looked down upon because of it. Isn't he more of man because he looked inside himself and saw who he really was?
- Amanda K.
Personally, when I read this conversation between Shane and Marian, I did not think Shane would be seen less of a man so much due to changing his mind/lack of resolution. Though men today are idealized to be confident in their decisions, I believe the significance of this particular situation is the fact that Shane does not want to be seen as a man chasing after a married woman. While changing your mind/having a lack of resolution may make a man look weak, trying to win the heart of a married woman would be downright immoral (which, I hope, is seen to not be "manly").
ReplyDelete-Stephen Wong