While they glorify the history of the American frontier, Western stories and films play a key role in American Mythology. Classically known for gun fights, stage coach robberies and cowboy and indian fights, Americans feel a sense of identity when watching these films because they feel it is a part of their past, glorified though it may be, Westerns are simply entertaining.
Westerns are a great part of American mythology. They showcase how we look back on our history of the frontier, shaping the land we now call home. Gun fights were sometimes romanticized, but always prominent, oftentimes measuring the steel of a man and his worth. This also gave man the power to either bring or serve justice on his own accord quickly, which would often times bring down no discipline on his own head. This is something that clearly does not stand in todays standards, but is instead surprising if one even knows how to fire a gun let alone own one. The sense of justice has changed dramatically since the dawn of the western, with a complete new set of rules and values, yet so many of us still find entertainment and value in these films because the characters are strong in their beliefs and the sense of community is something of nostalgia for some. No longer do people ban together to raise a town from the ground up, or defend each other as seen in these classic American myths. Truly they are a wonderful snapshot of the ideal West that so many Americans see themselves stemming from.
Western films can typically be whittled down to one battle: civilization versus wilderness. These odds can come in a variety of forms and can be represented by people versus the elements or people versus people and many typical plots are driven by revenge. Most western films are centered around male lead characters, both on the hero and villain side, but it is not uncommon to see women in supporting roles, as was the time period.
True Grit is a true reflection of American Mythology. From the setting of the civilized, yet not fully developed town to the forest and desert like landscapes, the plot is full of rough riding characters that fit the bill to many western films. The main character, Mattie, is motivated by the ever classic plot of revenge, to seek vengeance for her father’s death. The story also glorifies men in all their manly glory, who display “true grit.” One of these men is the gun slinging, more likely to shoot than ask questions, Marshall Rooster Cogburn. While isn’t a good guy or bad guy, he fills the role of both and accomplishes his own self interested goals. He is a drunkard and has a questionable history, yet the audience still takes to him as one of the good guys. We pardon him of his questionable past because he displays throughout the film that he truly is a man of “true grit” and he clearly does care for Mattie on their journey for revenge.
Mattie fits the mold to the justice seeker, truly believing that she will be bringing justice to her father’s death, but truly she is seeking revenge. Yet, her actions are warranted when we look at the kinds of characters she is met, such as the ruthless killers in the Ned Pepper gang, who would sooner cut your throat than talk. The audience is okay with Matties revenge and morals come from a sense of justice, thus feeling okay and rooting for her success in the death of her father’s killer.
In the end, True Grit is the perfect example of an American Mythology story, showcasing the history of the frontier in an up close look into a story of revenge and justice.
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