I believe that it was evident that there were going to be two alpha male cowboys in the film Red River, the moment that Matt came into the movie. The fact that he was willing to pull his gun on John Wayne's obvious alpha male character, Tom Dunson, shows he was fearless even as a boy. Not only was he fearless, but he already proved to be hardheaded even as a boy; after Dunson takes his gun away, he states, "Don't ever try to take it away from me again." Dunson then takes Matt under his wing, giving him pointers on how to shoot. Another early piece of evidence that Matt would become an alpha cowboy was when Dunson was describing his plans for the cattle business. In planning the brand logo Dunson includes a 'D' next to a symbol of the river. Matt questions why there is no 'M' in the logo for his name, proving he aspires to be a leader and an owner of the company. Dunson tells him he will someday earn that 'M'.
When Matt becomes an adult, his alpha male characteristics are even more evident. He does not act as a lesser side-kick to Dunson, but as a partner, refusing to take orders, instead wanting to give them. Even from the first scene with Matt as an adult, he dictates which trail they will take the cattle on, contradicting Dunson's plan. Perhaps the most defining moment in the film that there are two alpha male cowboys is the climax. Matt has the guts and ambition to steal Dunson's cattle empire for his own profit, so Dunson declares he is going to kill him. They later come close to dualing to the death. If that is not two alpha male cowboys butting heads then I do not know what is. Tompkins states that Westerns "privilege the male realm of public power, physical ordeal, homosociality, and the rituals of the duel." (Tompkins 42) Both Matt and Dunson seek public power and it ends up resulting in a public physical ordeal between the two. While both men have plenty of side-kicks who would be willing to help them, both refuse any help offered. In a quote Matheson points out of the cowboy in the film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, "Out here a man settles his own problems". (Matheson 895) That is exactly what Matt and Dunson choose to do, settle their own problems.
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I believe that it was evident that there were going to be two alpha male cowboys in the film Red River, the moment that Matt came into the movie. The fact that he was willing to pull his gun on John Wayne's character who was obviously an alpha male, Tom Dunson shows he was fearless even as a boy. Not only was he fearless, but he already proved to be hardheaded even as a boy; after Dunson takes his gun away, he states, "Don't ever try to take it away from me again." Dunson then takes Matt under his wing, giving him pointers on how to shoot a gun. Another early piece of evidence that Matt would become an alpha cowboy was when Dunson was describing his plans for the cattle business. In planning the brand logo Dunson includes a 'D' next to a symbol of the river. Matt questions why there is no 'M' in the logo for his name, proving he aspires to be a leader and an owner of the company some day. Dunson tells him he will someday earn that 'M'.
ReplyDeleteWhen Matt becomes an adult, his alpha male characteristics are even more evident. He does not act as a lesser side-kick to Dunson, but as a partner, refusing to take orders, instead wanting to give them, which Dunson did not feel comfortable with. Even from the first scene with Matt as an adult, he dictates which trail they will take the cattle on, contradicting Dunson's plan. Perhaps the most defining moment in the film that there are two alpha male cowboys is during the climax. Matt has the guts and ambition to steal Dunson's cattle empire for his own profit and leaves Dunson behind, tied up. Dunson declares he is going to kill him. They later come close to dueling to the death when Dunson has finally tracked Matt down. If that is not two alpha male cowboys butting heads then I do not know what is. Tompkins states that Westerns "privilege the male realm of public power, physical ordeal, homosociality, and the rituals of the duel." (Tompkins 42) Both Matt and Dunson seek power and want it to be known publically. So much so it ends up resulting in a public physical ordeal between the two in front of everyone. While both men have plenty of side-kicks who would be willing to help them, both refuse any help offered as alpha males take care of their own personal business. In a quote Matheson points out of the cowboy in the film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, "Out here a man settles his own problems". (Matheson 895) That is exactly what Matt and Dunson choose to do, as they prove by the end of the movie there can be two alpha males.