Antihero's Dilemmas

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1. I would describe the Western shootout as a test of reflexes and mental strength. Though it’s obviously a violent act, it’s comparable to a card game in that it depends on a person’s ability to read others and keep cool in a stressful situation. For instance, in George P. Cosmatos’ Tombstone, the focus on the character’s eyes and facial expressions emphasizes the importance of their fortitude and endurance as the men that reveal their anxiety are the ones to lose the quickest. If a character doesn’t have both the skill and the mental toughness for a shootout, then they won’t succeed.
2. Gunfighters and shootouts seem to function as a show of character and a manifestation of conflicting motivations in the West. As I discussed above, shootouts …show more content…

I think the Western hero is appealing because of their simplicity. When a character is firmly good or firmly bad, then we know exactly who to root for or root against. Even when that means the story is predictable, it can still be enjoyable and comforting to watch a world where the good guy always wins. Meanwhile, Western antiheros may not be as clear cut as the hero, but they are able to do the things that may not be moral but are still interesting and even satisfying. For example, Ben Wade in James Mangold’s 3:10 to Yuma satisfies the wants of the audience as he turns on his gang at the end of the movie. It’s arguable whether this was the “good” thing to do or not, but regardless, the calm and ruthless way he kills the members of the gang is a bit chilling—and also feels like justice. With characters like this, good and bad guys are no longer as clear, which can at times be uncomfortable, but ultimately much more interesting than typical hero and villain. Furthermore, through morally grey characters, writers can challenge the audience’s notions of morality and raise questions about what’s right and wrong. As the Western progresses, authors seem more interested in these questions and more critical of the genre’s morals, exploring deeper into what it actually means to be a

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