Steve Hutzell: Shane Discussion

I'd like to point out a quote from page 233 during the moment when Fletcher, Wilson, and two cowboys approach Joe Starrett's front porch with their proposition.  At the very end of the conversation Shane says to Wilson, "You talk like a man because of that flashy hardware you're wearing.  Strip it away and you'd shrivel down to boy size."

From this statement, one might conclude that as part of the Western myth, being a "man" has a lot to do with reaching adulthood and becoming more mature.  Not once in the entire book did I see a reference to femininity or masculinity, but only manhood.  There was a lot of talk about Joe being the one real man in the valley because he stood up for what was right and wanted to protect those who were being pressured by Fletcher to leave.  That being said, it was expected that a man take on these responsibilities--and it did not mean that someone was not a "man" if they were not as courageous and stubborn as Joe or Shane.

As for the cover of the novel, Shane is depicted as a very confident man with sharp edges to his body, muscles, and face.  He is well put together with his shirt tucked in and a belt to keep everything in place.  The black hat that contrasts the tan color of everything else in the picture makes you realize that his eyes are hidden.  Just as Shane had come into the Starretts' lives as a stranger, so he left as one, too.  Perhaps the author is saying that it takes more than just a glance to understand what it is that really defines a man.  Shane left a mark on the valley that no one will forget--that may not have happened if Joe had been quick to judge Shane based on his mysterious presence.

-Steve Hutzell