Andrew Goodman Unforgiven

Unforgiven (1992) is considered to be a revisionist Western film. According to dictionary.com, revisionist can be defined as “attempting to reevaluate and restate the past based on newly acquired standards.” Thus, a revisionist Western, in light of newly acquired standards and beliefs, attempts to portray some characters differently from those found in classic Westerns.
Unforgiven offers a unique portrayal of the other, in the form of Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). Obviously, Ned Logan is an African American. It is interesting to note that he is married to a Native American. Throughout the course of the film, the fact that Ned is African American is never mentioned. It seems as though his race has no impact upon his interactions with other characters. Ned is the former partner of William Munny, who seeks Ned’s assistance in completing the two contract killings. It is clear that William Munny values Ned as his trusted riding partner and does not care that he is white while Ned is black. The Schofield Kid reacts to Ned with some hostility, however, this is because Munny did not reveal that he would be bringing along a third man to share in the $1000 bounty. There is no indication that The Schofield Kid reacts to Ned in this way because he is black. Furthermore, after Ned Logan, William Munny, and the Schofield Kid participate in the killing of one of the two cowboys, Ned determines that he simply cannot kill anymore and plans to return to his wife. However, Ned is captured and delivered to Little Bill Daggett, who whips and beats him in order to persuade him to reveal William Munny’s true identity. There is no indication that Little Bill does this to Ned as he is black. Based upon the savage nature that Little Bill demonstrated throughout the film, it is likely that he would have also whipped and beaten William Munny or the Schofield Kid. In a classic Western, Ned’s character would not have been played by a black man as the classic Western idolized the white alpha male cowboy. Aside from this film, the most noteworthy black character that we have seen is Pompey in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Ned Logan, who simply cannot kill anymore, is a source of relative morality as he is a reformed outlaw. That he is black is indicative of a revisionist Western, which attempts to portray those formerly considered to be the other in a positive light.
William Munny (Clint Eastwood) is a reformed gunfighter who, according to his statements throughout the film, was “cured of his wicked ways” by his wife, who passed away. When we first encounter him, he is a farmer who hasn’t pointed a gun at anyone in eleven years. Clearly, he is an atypical alpha male cowboy as he does not embark on the quest to Big Whiskey as a result of his duty; he goes in order to get paid for killing two men. Yes, he needs the money in order to provide for his children, however, as he is not avenging a personal slight, his motives cannot be considered completely admirable. Thus, the extremely violent nature of the classic Western, which featured the concept that “the individual does not enforce the law; he is the law,” is criticized (Matheson 896). After William Munny and the Schofield Kid kill the second cowboy, Little Bill kills Ned. William Munny reverts to his former self as he drinks whiskey and his rough demeanor returns. Then, he enters the bar where Ned’s body is displayed and kills several men, including Little Bill. He does this so as to avenge Ned’s death. Thus, the excessive violence of the classic Western is criticized as William Munny, who claimed to be “cured of his wicked ways,” quickly reverts to his former self in quickly and efficiently killing several men.