The Searchers Ryan L

John Fords film, The Searchers, is a good depiction of the landscape that is mentioned in Jane Tompkins book West of Everything. Throughout the film, the director presents the audience with several different landscapes, however by far the most predominant one was the desert scene which Tompkins harps on. For instance , the opening scene has a desolate house in the middle of a rough terrain. This, according to Tompkins is a traditional beginning for the typical western, and it is also that which draws in the cowboy, "It is an environment inimical to human beings, where a person is exposed, the sun beats down, and there is no place to hide. But the negations of the physical setting-no shelter, no water, no rest, no comfort-are also its siren song. Be brave, be strong enough to endure this, it says, and you will become like this-hard, austere, sublime" (71). In the film, although Ethan is clearly the typical loner cowboy, Martin represents the calling Tompkins mentions. For example, he leaves for five years on a search for Debbie. Although it maybe considered done for pure altruism, he could have allowed Ethan to search, while he stay behind. Rather he leaves because he is called to test himself. The rugged terrain gives the adopted child a chance to prove his worth. Having said that, Ethan represents the cowboy who has proven himself, and relishes the pure solidarity. As Tompkins discusses, the solidarity in nature is part of the perfection that draws in the cowboy, "As soon as the tiny figures of the horsemen appear, or a wagon or a wagon train, as soon as the line is broken even by sage brush or cattle or mountains, the signs of life undo the still perfection of objecthood" (77). This absolute emptiness is exact serenity that is desired by cowboys such as Ethan. For example, Ethan chases after this loneliness. Although he always returns home it is in his own time. It took him three years to return after the war, and another five to search. Without any real family, the nature becomes his place of living.