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Movies and books, about tales of the Old West, are still popular today. They give us a vivid perspective of how the Old West was. Images of the Wild West evoke thoughts of gunfights, saloons, and women in distress waiting to be rescued by the local hero. The movie, High Noon, directed by Fred Zinnemann, takes on the traditional tone that the viewer is all too familiar with. Stephen Cranes story, The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky recreates the classic Old West tale of the villain versus the hero while giving it a comical edge. While High Noon provides one with stereotypical portrayals of the damsel in distress, the villain, and the hero, both pieces focus on the notion that good always prevails.
They are clearly similar in this way; however, differences abound between the two works. The plots of the stories unfold with action sequences taking on different roles in each. Comedic elements in Cranes Story create a theme that also differs from that in the more classic High Noon. The characters in High Noon are just what one would expect in an Old Western tale, while those in Cranes story are anything but typical. If we compare and contrast the elements of High Noon and The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky we can see Cranes theme: not all of the arguments in the Old West were resolved with gunfights. Violence is not the answer to every argument.
The two pieces show typical similarities. Both are Old Westerns focusing on good versus evil. The notion that good always prevails is present in both works. The marshal wins in both cases. They both have the same setting, taking place in the Old West, in a small town.
They also have the same plot: a damsel in distress, a villain, and a hero, as do most Old Westerns. Another similarity is that both heroes have just been married. These two pieces also have their differences in how they approach the characterizations of the bride, the villain, and the hero. In an Old Western film or story we expect the characters to look and act a certain way. In High Noon the characterizations fulfill all of our expectations. In High Noon, Amy Kane, the bride, is everything we expect.
She still is in her youth and is very pretty. Amy seems to be very conservative also. Another aspect about Amy Kane is that she stands up for her convictions. She is a Quaker, and at the end of the film she goes against all of her beliefs to protect her man. In contrast, Mrs. Potter in The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky is the complete opposite.
Crane points out, The Bride was not pretty, nor was she very young (251). Mrs. Potters physical features are part of Cranes use of comic irony. Mrs.
Potter also is not as brave as Amy Kane is. At the sight of Scratchy's gun she turns yellow (257). This is a symbolic notion of being scared. Amy Kane and Mrs.
Potter are the complete opposite. The villains in High Noon and The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky have distinct characteristics. A true villain is vicious all the time. Frank Miller, in High Noon, fits the description of a true villain. He is nothing but a troublemaker.
Frank kills without reason because he has no code of honor. The villain in The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky goes by the name of Scratchy Wilson. What kind of respectable villain goes by the name of Scratchy? The townspeople say that Scratchy is not cruel all the time.
One man described him: Hes a terror when hes drunk. When hes sober hes all right kind of simple wouldnt hurt a fly nicest fellow in town (255). Scratchy does not fit the description of a true villain because he is only cruel when he is drunk. The barkeeper adds, this here Scratchy Wilson is a wonder with a gun a perfect wonder [] (255). If he is such a wonder with a gun, why does he miss a piece of paper by a half inch?
A true villain does not miss when he aims at something. This is another aspect of Cranes use of comic irony. Finally, the two heroes have different characteristics. In High Noon Will Kane is the protagonist and hero. He is a well-respected man of the town with a code of honor. He is the marshal who has just been married.
He is proud to be married in his hometown. As a consequence of his marriage he has to give up his badge. When trouble comes into town, he does not run away from it. He sticks around town even though it is against his wifes wishes. Will Kane is the typical marshal for an Old Western town. On the other hand, the hero in Cranes story should not be labeled a hero.
Jack Potter, the marshal, is a well-respected man in the town of Yellow Sky. He ran off and got married without telling anyone. He knew full well that his marriage was an important thing to this town (253). When they arrive in Yellow Sky they get off the train without speaking to anyone.
Potter and his bride walked sheepishly and with speed. Sometimes they laughed together shamefacedly and low (257). They tried to hide from everyone. When trouble was staring Jack in the face, he hid behind his wife.
Potter distinctly says, Yes, married. Im married, (258) as if begging Scratchy to back down. Jack cowardly hides behind the fact that he is married. He hides behind his wife trying to get out of this situation.
This is why Jack should not be labeled a hero because he clearly is not. None of his actions were heroic. Westerns have always conjured up images of villains and heroes resolving their conflicts with gunfights, with the hero usually ending up victorious. High Noon and The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky share one distinct similarity: they both include classic plot lines that include those conflicts.
While the two stories share this aspect of a Western story, they also have many differences. Among those differences is the way the characters are portrayed. The action sequences also differ from one another. Finally, the themes are different; one portrays courage while the other portrays cowardice. The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky is told through the use of comic irony in order to achieve Cranes special effects.
The use of comic irony gives the story an edge leaving the reader with the question: What was the Old West really like?
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