RT The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, consists of three main characters. All three have a large influence on the community, but go about this in very different ways. Once again John Wayne is the hardboiled anti-hero, always ready to "draw a gun faster than anyone else" (890). Rance Stoddard is a lawyer from the East who hopes to spread his political ideals to the west and establish rule of law instead of rule by law. Lastly, Liberty Valance is a crook who is never afraid to take on another man and is the toughest around, except of course for John Wayne's character, Tom Doniphon. Valance's behavior is describes as "beastly" and as someone who "lumbers about like an ape...flouting all that "civilized" America holds dear: good posture, acceptable table manners, the sanctity of womanhood, law and order, freedom of speech, and most of all, the democratic process itself" (895). Valance is a man who displays extreme antisocial behavior and inflicts fear on most of the citizens of Shinbone.
Matheson describes Doniphon as, "callous, remorseless, and manipulative" going on to say, "He refuses to accept Stoddard's nomination for political appointment because serving the public would interfere with his personal interests" (896). Doniphon is a man who is focused on his own duties and obligations, always around when needed but never doing more then is required. He provides Stoddard with simple advice when he shows up explaining, "You'd better start packing a handgun...I know those law books mean a lot to you but not out here. Out here a man settles his own problems". Matheson's assessment of Doniphon as someone who is "corrupt" certainly seems valid here. Doniphon recommends that Stoddard places himself out of the law, Stoddard's very ideology, and that he becomes the law himself. Matheson also states, "there really is very little difference between Doniphon and Liberty Valance. Both men settle their problems in the same fashion" (896). I feel that this is a very bold statement and that it should be a bit more specific. It would be valid to say that the course of actions performed by Valance and Doniphon are similar when trying to accomplish a goal. However, the goals which Valance and Doniphon act in respect to are not.
Matheson goes on to explain that "Doniphon destroys his personal happiness by acting in good faith"(896). This statement certainly seems to ring true to many of the scenes in the movie. He allows Stoddard to take the credit for the murder of Liberty Valance and allows Stoddard to take his girl. Doniphon saved Stoddard's life and in return lost the one he loved. Consequently, he went into a drunk rage and burned down the house which he was currently expanding on in anticipation of asking the girl to marry him. It is also interesting that Doniphon turns down the nomination for representing his community due to personal interests, while simultaneously motivating Stoddard to live up to his political potential. Matheson agrees, explaining, "without Doniphon's help, Stoddard would never have been the man who "with a snap of his fingers could become the next vice president" of the United States" (896). Although Doniphon is certainly an alpha male character in the movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, he does so without boasting himself. Rather, he shares some of the positive spotlight with Stoddard; a man who he is not intimidated by. On the other side, is the bad alpha male character, Liberty Valance. A man who could have easily killed Stoddard multiple times, and does kill Stoddard's boss at the newspaper factory. The citizens fear Liberty, and the marshal goes no where near him.