In Red River, Tom Dunson depicts the role of the alpha male cowboys that is becoming too old and rough to fulfill the duties of a true alpha male cowboy. As Dunson’s character fades, a new cowboy steps into Dunson’s shoes. This would be Matthew Garth. Both men possess characters that classify them as alpha male cowboys. Nonetheless, I and along with Matheson and Tompkins, would argue that neither fits the description of a true alpha male cowboy.
Tom Dunson is a strong male figure in the beginning. He has a dream to build a cattle empire. In order to follow this dream, he must leave the caravan he is traveling with. Within this caravan is the woman he loves. Staying true to an alpha male cowboy, he leaves the woman behind to follow his dreams (Matheson, 902). She only takes up a minute or two of the movie (Tompkins, 40) After leaving, the caravan is attacked by Native Americans and a boy, Matt, wonders to Dunson’s camp and is taken in as if he was Dunson’s own son. When Dunson decides to take his cattle up to Missouri, he assembles a band of cowboys. The realization and drive that Dunson has to make this march happen is the reason for his downfall. He becomes very stuck in his mindset, only caring about himself and getting this cattle moved. I would say he possessed traits of a tyrant. His overbearing ways caused men the leave his camp. Dunson’s instinct that death is the punishment if you screw up in his camp is one questioned by everyone else in his squad. However, when Dunson kills someone, he always makes sure to read the Bible, which contradicts the acceptation of Christianity in Westerns. (Tompkins, 34) Dunson is a man who “settles his own problems.” (Matheson, 897) His actions speak louder than his words. Dunson’s character has lost the trust of his men. With this lack of trust, Matt transforms into the new leader and alpha male cowboy.
Matthew Garth was taught everything he knew from Dunson. He most important knowledge gained from Dunson would be is shooting expertise. He was almost, if not better, than Dunson with a gun. This quality is an important individual characteristic to acquire if you’re an alpha male cowboy. Matt acts as Dunson’s sidekick until he takes over the role of alpha male cowboy. He never questioned Dunson before the cattle drive. During the drive, Matt acted as the middle man between the band of cowboys and Duson. He knew that he had a duty to stand by Duson no matter what he thought of his actions. (Matheson, 902) Another cowboy, Cherry, tells Matt has a soft heart. A soft heart is a contradiction of an alpha male cowboy. However, Matt love for Dunson is terminated when Matt decides to take the cattle himself with the men to Kansas. This route is better for both the cattle and the men. Dunson makes a promise to kill Matt. From this point on Matt is fearful for his life (Tompkins, 31) While on route, Matt falls in love with Ms. Millay. He allows himself to be seduced by her. This shows that Matt does have a weak heart. This makes Matt look for like a woman than an alpha male cowboy.
At the end of the movie both Dunson and Matt know that they must finally face each other to put this quest of both wealth and vengeance to an end. Dunson comes in guns a blazing while Matt just stands in the middle of the road motionless. He allows Dunson to shoot at him. When Matt finally fights back, Ms. Millay intervenes quickly after. She looks at them and tells them that they love each other and that they need to stop fighting. Together the men look at each other and realize she is right. This allows both men to be persuaded by a woman. This act alone for me is proof they are not true alpha male cowboys. Each man possesses qualities that a true of an alpha male. Yet, their soft spots and sometimes unethical or uncharacteristic behavior steers them away from this title.
In Red River, Tom Dunson depicts the role of the alpha male cowboys that is becoming too old and rough to fulfill the duties of a true alpha male cowboy. As Dunson’s character fades, a new cowboy steps into Dunson’s shoes. This would be Matthew Garth. Both men possess characters that classify them as alpha male cowboys. Nonetheless, I and along with Matheson and Tompkins, would argue that neither fits the description of a true alpha male cowboy.
ReplyDeleteTom Dunson is a strong male figure in the beginning. He has a dream to build a cattle empire. In order to follow this dream, he must leave the caravan he is traveling with. Within this caravan is the woman he loves. Staying true to an alpha male cowboy, he leaves the woman behind to follow his dreams (Matheson, 902). She only takes up a minute or two of the movie. (Tompkins, 40) After leaving, the caravan is attacked by Native Americans and a boy, Matt, wonders to Dunson’s camp and is taken in as if he was Dunson’s own son. When Dunson decides to take his cattle up to Missouri, he assembles a band of cowboys. The realization and drive that Dunson has to make this march happen is the reason for his downfall. He becomes very stuck in his mindset, only caring about himself and getting this cattle moved. I would say he possessed traits of a tyrant. His overbearing ways caused men the leave his camp. Dunson’s instinct that death is the punishment if you screw up in his camp is one questioned by everyone else in his squad. However, when Dunson kills someone, he always makes sure to read the Bible, which contradicts the acceptation of Christianity in Westerns. (Tompkins, 34) Dunson is a man who “settles his own problems.” (Matheson, 897) His actions speak louder than his words. Dunson’s character has lost the trust of his men. With this lack of trust, Matt transforms into the new leader and alpha male cowboy.
Matthew Garth is taught everything he knows from Dunson. The most important knowledge gained from Dunson would be his shooting expertise. He is almost, if not better, than Dunson with a gun. This quality is an important individual characteristic to acquire if you’re an alpha male cowboy. Matt acts as Dunson’s sidekick until he takes over the role of alpha male cowboy. He never questions Dunson before beginning the cattle drive. During the drive, Matt acts as the middle man between the band of cowboys and Duson. He knows that he has a duty to stand by Duson no matter what he thinks of his actions. (Matheson, 902) Another cowboy, Cherry, tells Matt has a soft heart. A soft heart is a contradiction of an alpha male cowboy. However, Matt’s love for Dunson is terminated when Matt decides to take the cattle himself with the men to Kansas. This route is better for both the cattle and the men. Dunson makes a promise to kill Matt. From this point on Matt is fearful for his life. (Tompkins, 31) While on route, Matt falls in love with Ms. Millay. He allows himself to be seduced by her. This shows that Matt does have a weak heart. This makes Matt look for like a woman than an alpha male cowboy.
At the end of the movie both Dunson and Matt know that they must finally face each other to put this quest of both wealth and vengeance to an end. Dunson comes in guns a blazing while Matt just stands in the middle of the road motionless. He allows Dunson to shoot at him. When Matt finally fights back, Ms. Millay intervenes quickly after. She looks at them and tells them that they love each other and that they need to stop fighting. Together the men look at each other and realize she is right. This allows both men to be persuaded by a woman. This act alone for me is proof they are not true alpha male cowboys. Each man possesses qualities that a true of an alpha male. Yet, their soft spots and sometimes unethical or uncharacteristic behavior steers them away from this title.