in the final shots of him riding off, we see him leaning over on his horse??? did he die???
shareI think they left it for the viewer to decide.
shareI believe not.
I feel that Shane is ageless, in a way, and, as a mostly symbolic character, beyond life and death. We need Shane, as part of the Western Mythology, to be out there in the open spaces, being free. We all give up most of our own freedom to receive, what Doc calls, at the end of John Ford's "Stagecoach": "the blessings of civilization".
I think that understanding that point helps us understand a film like "Easy Rider". The generation that grew up in the warmth of that myth, that Shane is out there, that the open spaces are there, that one can still be free there, like Shane, went out looking for it. But it was gone.
As I teach this film, I give it a lot of thought.
"The world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through"
The theme you allude to, "being free", has been a part of many westerns through the years. I'm sure you've seen, or read, "Cimarron" by Edna Ferber. Much the same theme. Yancy represents much of what Shane represents and Sabra represents much of what Marion represents. The masculine -- opening and taming the west. The feminine -- settling and building the west. Each needing the other, in a way, to produce a robust future for all.
You may wish to refer to "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962). There, too, the transition from the masculine (Tom Doniphan) to the feminine (Ransom Stoddard & Hallie) prerogative.
Of course. The theme is central to the genre, and I can give many examples.
The reference to "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is very relevant. I see the relationship between Tom and Liberty is similar to that between Shane and Wilson. In both cases the killing clears the open spaces of the last threat to the new families moving in, and both Shane and Tom understand their time has passed.
"The world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through"
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Except, nobody in the Old West actually did that. This is one of those Hollywood BS things that irritates me no end: the idea that once you were known as a good man with a gun, there were young snotnose punks coming out of the woodwork everywhere you went to prove they were better than you and get a "rep" as the fastest gun alive. That never happened! Wild Bill Hickok was shot from behind, not by someone itching to prove that he was better. So was John Wesley Hardin. And in fact, Hardin crossed paths with Hickok when Hardin was a young tough. They got to know each other slightly, but never faced off. In fact Hardin seems to have been very impressed with Wild Bill, and keen to hang around and be known as someone who associated with such a famous pistoleer. And once Hardin committed a murder in Abilene (the man he shot for snoring -- though he wasn't actually trying to kill him, and was just firing blindly), he lit out of town quick rather than face Hickok, whom he was sure would try to kill him.
Jesse James was shot from behind. His brother Frank gave up outlawry after serving his prison time and died an old man. Billy the Kid was ambushed as he entered a darkened room. Morgan Earp was ambushed and killed. Virgil Earp was ambushed and survived. Doc Holliday died in his bed from tuberculosis. Wyatt Earp lived to a ripe old age, as did Bat Masterson. But none of these famous gunfighters was besieged with up and coming wannabe gunslingers trying to get famous by beating the old master and proving he was better.
He was riding uphill so you lean. I don't think his wound was fatal because he obviously didn't seem to be hurting much as he talked to Joey.
shareNo. It is Shane's lonely fate to travel on with no place and no one to call his own.
"Fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency."
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I say, alive. Dumb not to tend to the wound in town.
shareAgreed, never rode a horse with a gunshot wound but can't imagine it to be pleasant, don't think anyone can know for sure but just saw this movie for the first time, after hearing much debate alive or dead and I dont see much to support dead. But would never be certain, convictions create convicts, after all.
shareThe ending bothered me as well, mostly because his arm appeared to be in a state of rigor mortis.
It reminded me of the final scene in "El Cid", and we all know what happened to Chuck.
what makes one even think he might be dead is that he never looks up during the final shots (as far as i could tell) - the only reason you would be facing downwards while riding would be if you're dead or sleeping, right?
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In the final scene he appears to be riding with his left arm intentionally out from his body. Also, it seemed to me thatJoey notices blood when he touches Shane's sleeve. If I'm not off-base in those observations, I'd guess that he got hit in the upper arm or shoulder.
shareyes he did. He was shot and bleeding out. He did not have the gunshot attended to. To anyone who believes that he lived, I ask this. If a person were shot once in the stomach, or lower abdomen, and did not receive any medical attention for that wound, would that person survive for very long?
Ever see "Man In The Wilderness" starring Richard Harris?
That was based on a true story of a man so badly injured by a bear that his companions thought he was close to death and left him.
Motivated by revenge, he doesn't die, and after months, confronts those who abandoned him.
Some people have survived injuries that would have killed others. You never know. It has to do with mental toughness.
Remember that hiker who amputated his own arm with a pocket knife in order to free himself?
Can you see yourself doing that? Can you see yourself doing that and staying conscious to make sure the tourniquet (which hopefully you applied before removing the arm) stays on?
Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.
Nope. Shane was tough and smiling. He didn't die.
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