Liberty Valance BG

Tom Doniphan and Liberty Valance hold similar traits in the movie The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Had they been on the same side of the law, they would have made quite the duo and their tales even more legendary. They may live in the West, agreeing on “the law of the gun” but it becomes evident throughout the movie that they are very different Alpha-Male characters.

Tom is dynamic, showing emotion and depth as a character. He changes outfits, and looks exceptionally stunning with his Saturday night outfit. As Matheson says “it becomes obvious that the duke specialized in playing destabilized, alienated figures, socially marginalized men caught in double binds- in short, the modern existential antihero.” His emotions run free as he feels threatened by Rance stealing Hallie’s heart, and rightfully so. He is complex enough, as an Alpha-Male, to understand the implications of killing Liberty Valance and the double bind that it puts him in. As a man of the West, Tom Doniphan exhibits antisocial characteristics of an Alpha-Male. Although he does participate in saloon activities, such as drinking, his life at home is clearly isolated, leaving us with only two short scenes of Tom at home. Even then, the viewer gets the impression, at best, it is Tom and Pompey at his ranch.

Valance is a static character, who doesn’t change at all throughout the film. His thoughts, actions and reactions, remain constant from beginning to end. As an Alpha-Male, Liberty has an established infamous reputation. We are introduced to Liberty as he terrorizes Rance in the beginning of his flashback. Liberty plays the typical static villain, his costume doesn’t change throughout the movie, contrasting with Tom.

Rance Stoddard is made fun of at multiple points in the movie by his comparatively “feminine” acts in the west, such as cleaning, cooking wearing an apron, and called a ‘waitress’ as an insult to his sidejob with Hallie. “Stoddard’s masculinity is dimished because he may be considered ‘naked’ without a gun.” When Rance is preparing himself for the occasion when he needs to face Liberty Valance, his practice isn’t improving his aim. This can be translated as a direct metaphor to show the difference between a man of the West and ‘civilized’ East.

Rance tries to “be a man of the West” with target practice with Tom, and then the duel with Liberty, he fails miserably. In the duel with Liberty, Rance unknowingly receives the lifesaving help of Tom Doniphan to defeat the villain. No matter how much he is poked fun at, Rance holds true to his beliefs in the written law, faith in the government, and education. These beliefs vastly contrast those of Doniphon who says that schooling is “a waste of time” when pulling Pompey out of the classroom. But by sticking to his beliefs and values, what makes him who he is, (and in my eyes this trait is what makes him a man) ultimately allows Rance to become the successful man that he aspires to be.