Shane Essay, Research Paper
Shane
Shane is a classic example of western fiction in which Schaefer contrasts the values of the
isolated family
farm with the lawlessness of the cowtown. Shane, the gunfighter protagonist, attempts to
find peace with
the farmers but can only help clear away the violence for the civilization the farmers bring.
Schaefer
reveals the difficult struggles of homesteaders who fight to bring justice to an ungoverned
land, and strives
to fulfill the hopes and promises of prosperity to their families. The reality in the struggles
of these farmers
were supported with an accurate correspondence to history (e.g. The Homestead Act) and
with detailed and
atmospheric languages. The language is easily understandable and helps the reader to
better comprehend
the book. It is simply a great page turner.
Although it is a fictional work, it does not fail to portray the harsh life style of the
westerners of
the 1800’s. While the book depicts some of the western struggles, it adds an element of
suspense as a novel
as well with the battle between a protagonist and antagonists. Images of blood occur often
in the book to
emphasize the risk involved in living a western life, especially where justice does not exist.
The simple
language of the book does not hinder from creating its lively images, rather it makes it
easier for the readers
to comprehend the book. The ab
simplicity of the
book.
The story is told through the eyes of an omniscient observer who especially
concentrates on the
Starrett family. Such concentration does not allow the reader to observe the lifestyles of
other
homesteaders; the Starrett family basically symbolizes the homesteader of that era. This
particular view-
point favors the triumph of good versus the evil. This old-fashioned philosophy on the
battles between the
good versus evil is still a universal theme, and therefore is able to appeal to today’s young
readers.
Despite the brevity of the book, Schaefer has included all the necessary items to
describe the lives
of homesteaders: the struggle against famines, the competition for more land, etc. The
author has limited
the sophistication of its language because the novel is geared toward younger ages, and to
tell the lives of
simple homesteaders in a simple and undisguised way. Furthermore, the author has
admirably utilized its
simple language to bring a novel filled with gracious images of hope and death. The
universal theme of
good versus evil creates the suspense required for the novel and is appealing even to the
modern society.
This novel is more than a mere juvenile literature because it teaches the cruelty of life in
the society by
using the homesteader, which can be better related to adults.