Old West By Larry McMurtry Essays - Lonesome Dove Series

Old West By Larry McMurtry "Old West" LONESOME DOVE While Larry McMurtry honors certain mythical features of the "Old West," his epic, Lonesome Dove, is the quintessential representation of the realism of the "Old West." By contrast, mythic representations of the "Old West" tend to look absurd and silly. Stories such as the one portrayed in the film "True Grit" appear to be ridiculous because of their one-dimensional presentation of characters, including women; their passive, utopian environments; and their conveniently distinct depiction of good and evil. Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove presents characters not larger than life but complex, women who are not frightened and dependent, but self-sufficient and wise. "McMurtry is unfailing acute on the life of women in this man's world" (Clemons, Contemporary Literary Criticism 254). In mythic representations such as "True Grit" villains are not people with complicated backgrounds which cause their poor behavior. Nor are there Indians or black people in "True Grit" although the "Old West" was populated by them. "All of Mr. McMurtry's anti-mythic groundwork-his refusal to glorify the West-works to reinforce the strength of the traditionally mythic parts of Lonesome Dove by making it far more credible than the old familiar horse operas" (Lemann, Literary Criticism 257) such as "True Grit." In the film "True Grit" Rooster Cogburn typifies the preposterous qualities of a mythical United States Marshall. He acts alone in hunting down serious killers, but this is no problem because Rooster, even though a drunk, earlier has brought to justice a wagon-load of wrongdoers. Later, with the reins of his horse in his teeth, Rooster shoots all of his antagonists except for his arch enemy who shoots Rooster's horse out from under him. Just as the arch enemy, Robert Duvall, is about to shoot Rooster, from far away someone conveniently kills Duvall. Rooster is a man whose weaknesses never pull him down, because he is "larger than life" (Hirsch, E! Online 2). Rooster Cogburn is a character of mythical stature whose defects never prevent him from accomplishing his heroic deeds. Larry McMurtry's characters in his novel, Lonesome Dove, demonstrate actual "grit." While Augustus (Gus) McCrae is an indolent man, unlike Rooster Cogburn, Gus is not ashamed of his laziness. "It's a good thing that I ain't scairt' to be lazy" (McMurtry 9). Gus would rather have a whisky bottle in his hand than a shovel (Horn, Literary Criticism 255), but his crew forgives his weaknesses because they respect his heroic capabilities as an authentic, fierce fighter and loyal friend. Gus McCrae's former Texas Ranger partner , Captain Woodrow C. Call, proves himself a terrific leader and an excellent cowboy who at the same time lacks typical cowboy sociability. "He heads for the river because he is tired of hearing us yap, he ain't a sociable man and never was" (McMurtry 26). Unlike Rooster Cogburn, who always acts flamboyantly, Woodrow Call's personality changes dramatically because he is genuinely influenced by his circumstances. He is always the first to react to danger including anticipating poisonous snakes while on the trail, and occasionally saving his crew from harm. Call acts the part when needed. The "portrayal of McCrae and Call,...as both heroic and endearingly human,...particularly delighted critics" (Literary Criticism 253). The foolish humor in "True Grit" attempts to create the belief that a one-eyed, alcoholic man who falls off his horse can individually solve problems because he has "true grit." The gritty Rooster Cogburn lives with a little Chinese man and a cat which seems silly in the way it provides humorous relief. This is a common gimmick that film makers use who represent the "Old West" in a mythic way. Rooster's eating habits also characterize him comically. He often puts rock hard bacon bits into his mouth, even offering them to dainty women like Kim Darby who is shocked by the offer. Other aspects of humor arise when at the film's conclusion. Rooster rides away while improbably jumping over a fence in a manner of an agile young cowboy. In fact, Rooster is a cowboy cut-up whose drinking habits lead to...laughable incidents" throughout the film (Hirsch, E! 2). In contrast, reviewers praised Larry McMurtry's chronicle of cowboy life in the nineteenth century "as a humorous yet sincere tribute to the American West" (Literary Criticism 253). McMurtry provides his characters with realistic humor as when Woodrow reflects on his partnership with Gus: It's odd I partnered with a man like you, Call, Augustus said. If we was to meet now instead of when we did, I doubt we'd have two words to say to one another. Woodrow Call responded, I