Tompkins chapter on the land and the landscape reflects the Western, "The Searchers". When Martha walks out onto the front deck to see Uncle Ethan galloping toward their home the landscape fits the description of, "a land defined by absence: of trees, of geenery, of houses, of the signs of civilization, above all, the absence of water and shade." (71) The sun is beaming down and the sand is sweeping across the scape which gives us thoughts of a hot, dry climate where life struggles to strive. Tompkins repeats throughout the chapter the vast desert and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. We can relate this concept of a vast land of uncertainty to when Ethan sets out with the other men to look for Debby and Lucy. They are faced with the uncertainty of where the Indians may be or what they may be doing, and are also faced with the vast land which inhibits their traveling when the horses get tired and need to be fed.
Another point that I drew from Tompkins' is the recognition of the white race being superior. "putting adult white males on top with everyone else in descending order beneath"(73). Ethan is almost disgusted when he see Aaron who is one eigth Indian. Throughout the movie he continually degrades Aaron constantly reminding him that he isn't as good as a white man.
Lastly, Tompkins brings up the idea of "Town" at the end of the chapter. This immediately made me think back to the beginning of the movie when the Reverend comes into the Jorgensen household with the rest of his crew. The riders seek shelter and are grateful to be out of the sun. "Town is a mecca, a haven" (86). The fact that the destination of the Reverend and the men he's with is a house with open arms that provides them a place to escape from the brutal sun and rest shows how it is like a haven to them.
Tompkins chapter on the land and the landscape reflects the Western, "The Searchers". When Martha walks out onto the front deck to see Uncle Ethan riding toward their home the landscape fits the description of, "a land defined by absence: of trees, of geenery, of houses, of the signs of civilization, above all, the absence of water and shade." (71) The sun is beaming down and the sand is sweeping across the scape which gives us thoughts of a hot, dry climate where life struggles to strive. Tompkins repeats throughout the chapter how vast the desert is and the constant uncertainty of what lies ahead. We can relate this concept of a vast land of uncertainty to when Ethan sets out with the other men to look for Debby and Lucy. They are faced with the uncertainty of where the Indians may be or what they may be doing, and are also faced with the vast land which inhibits their traveling when the horses get tired and need to be fed.
ReplyDeleteThe desert represents the environment of the alpha male cowboy. Ethan Edwards doesn't just show up at the house, he emerges from the landscape as if he is one with the desert. The desert is his home. Tompkins says, "the landscape challenges the body to endure hardship." This describes the hardship that Ethan and his crew endure in the constant heat and relentless sun that pushes their bodies to the limit. The desert is the cowboys home his place of work. The landscape in Westerns constantly represents an underlying struggle in the plot.