Red River AP

Both Tom Dunson and Matthew Garth have several characteristics of the alpha male cowboy that Matheson and Tompkins thoroughly describe. However, neither of them can really be regarded as an alpha male cowboy. They both show signs of weaknesses that are not the norm for alpha male cowboys.
Tom Dunson starts off the movie perfectly incorporating the characteristics of an alpha male cowboy. He sets off on his own trail with Groot, to build a ranch. He does not display fear of the Camanche that attack in that area, nor is he afraid of starting something new in a completely different place. He is ready to tame nature, which is one characteristic that Matheson talks about in her article. He just takes over part of the land of another man without remorse. He kills the messenger for even trying to stop him. To Dunson, death is nothing. Death is just a part of being in the West, which Tompkins talks about in the "Death" chapter. It takes him 15 years, but Dunson gets a bunch of cattle and builds a big ranch. He is driven by what Matheson would call "duty-based" ethics. He has a duty and he will go against anyone who stands in his way. He leads a pack of men and herd to Missouri, but the trip there brings about many troubles for Dunson. He is the leader for most of the journey until Matt Garth takes over. This is where Dunson starts lacking in alpha male cowboy characteristics. Many times during the trip, he just shoots who stands in his way, but with Matt it is different. Dunson becomes "soft". He can't be regarded as hardboiled because he loves Matt and by the end of the movie he shows those feelings. This is something that an alpha male cowboy should never do. He also starts losing control of his men. Once an alpha male cowboy can't control his men, then he really isn't an alpha male cowboy anymore. Therefore, Dunson can't be classified as alpha male.

Matt Garth is very similar to Tom Dunson in some ways. Although one can argue that Matt has clear characteristics of an alpha male cowboy, he actually isn't an alpha male cowboy. Matt starts off as a little boy and learns all he knows from Dunson. He even becomes a faster shooter than Dunson. This is very important, because the alpha male cowboy is always fast with his gun, because that is how men settle their problems in the West. Matt's character grows even more as the movie progresses. He stands up to Dunson many times. He also takes over Dunson's herd at one point, which really shows his bravery. Nevertheless, even with all of these alpha male characteristics, Matt is not a true alpha male cowboy. He shoots a man in the arm so that Dunson doesn't kill him, and he is afraid when in the fog of the night. These are things that alpha male cowboys should not do. He also does not stand up against Dunson at the end. Even with Dunson shooting at him many times, Matt does not draw his gun. All of these actions lead him to be an important character in this movie, but definitely not the alpha male cowboy.

Neither Matt nor Dunson can be called the alpha male cowboy of this movie. The very ending of the movie is the perfect example of why not. Both men let their emotions or feelings come out, when neither of them has the guts to shoot the other. An alpha male cowboy should not show his feelings. Therefore, neither men cannot be given the title "alpha male cowboy".