Shane

Rating:
Summary: incomparable
Review: He was clean-shaven and his face was lean and hard and burned from high forehead to firm,
tapering chin. His eyes seemed hooded in the shadow of the hat's brim. He came closer, and I
could see that this was because the brows were drawn in a frown of fixed and habitual alertness.
Beneath them the eyes were endlessly searching from side to side and forward, checking off every
item in view, missing nothing. As I noticed this, a sudden chill, I could not have told why, struck
through me there in the warm and open sun.

Well, we all know why that chill ran through little Bob as Shane rode up to the Starrett homestead in the Wyoming Territory in the summer of 1889, because Shane was a lethal, albeit reluctant, gunslinger. This slender American classic tells the story, familiar to every cultured American from the great George Stevens' movie (1953), of how Shane, fleeing a mysterious but obviously violent past, was befriended by the Starretts and stayed on to help them fight off the predatory intentions of the valley's big rancher and his evil henchmen. It is a story that is central to the American mythos.

The great Westerns penetrate deep within the American psyche; they strike a chord that lies somewhere within our national character, just waiting to be plucked. I believe that their unique power derives from a truly elemental facet of democracy--that in order for men to enjoy the freedom that a democracy allows, they must be able to depend on the fundamental goodness of their fellow men. An unyielding, self enforcing morality is a prerequisite for a political system based on liberty; men are unwilling to limit the coercive power of government when they live in fear of one another.

Certainly the Western and the code of the West represent a sanitized and romanticized view of the Frontier and the men who tamed it, but it is a romance that serves the democratic purpose. These morality tales are instructive and aspirational. Of course men like Shane are archetypes in a kind of a national myth making:

There were sharp hidden hardnesses in him. But these were not for us. He was dangerous as
mother had said. But not to us as father too had said. And he was no longer a stranger. He was a
man like a father in whom a boy could believe in the simple knowing that what was beyond
comprehension was still clean and solid and right.

This is a little boy's impossible view of a hero, but here we see that the character of Joe Starrett is equally important. Joe Starrett is a simple sod farmer, but he is kind and decent and honest and courageous, the equal of Shane in every respect except for speed on the draw. Joe is the true yeoman hero of this tale and one of the duties that Shane performs is to demonstrate this fact to young Bob (and to us).

Stories like Shane are a product of a time when Americans genuinely believed in democratic ideals and in the American Dream. They express our native confidence that we can produce men who will measure up these standards. It is no coincidence that the Western died in the mid-60's along with the sense of confidence in our national purpose. It is also unsurprising that it was Ronald Reagan, that hero of myriad Westerns, who stanched the bleeding and made people believe again, however briefly.

Here is just one other example of the instructive nature of these stories. This is Shane, teaching Bob to shoot:

"Listen, Bob. A gun is just a tool. No better and no worse than any other tool, a shovel--or an axe
or a saddle or a stove or anything. Think of it always that way. A gun is as good--and as bad--as
the man who carries it. Remember that."

Think of the level of personal responsibility that this attitude assumes. Contrast it with the near fascist drive to abolish gun rights today. The underlying argument of the forces of gun control is that guns are evil in and of themselves, regardless of the men who wield them. This is part and parcel of the Democrat myth of the '90s. Which do you think is more likely to foster good citizenship, holding guns responsible for violence or holding men responsible?

As for me, I choose the classic Westerns and the democratic ideals that they convey, over the moral relativism that permeates our current culture.

GRADE: A+

Rating:
Summary: chopping stumps
Review: I think it drags horribly, especially about the stump. The author took about 40 pages talking about that.

Rating:
Summary: Just buy it!
Review: Considering that you'll reread this book countless times, it's a worthwhile investment which will amortize over the years. "Shane" is a great western, and beyond that, great literature, in the vein of "The Virginian". Schaefer has the truly gifted writers' talent of painting vivid pictures with simple writing. He tells this story through the eyes of a youth, living in the west during the time that open-range ranchers were contending with homesteaders for grazing land. The darkly elegant Shane rides into the boy's life one afternoon and becomes part of the life of his frontier family. When an ugly land war invades the community, Shane's presence in the valley helps level the playing field. As he becomes personally involved in the disturbances, even those whose interests he sustains are sharply divided over the desirability of his presence in the region. Is he their savior, or a villain with trouble on his coattails? This is a great story that belongs in every home library.

Rating:
Summary: Just buy it!
Review: Considering that you'll reread this book countless times, it's a great investment which will amortize over the years. "Shane" is a great western, and beyond that, great literature, in the vein of "The Virginian". Schaefer has the truly great writers' gift of painting vivid pictures with simple writing. He tells this story through the eyes of a youth, living in the west during the time that open-range ranchers were contending with homesteaders for grazing land. The enigmatic Shane rides into the boy's life one afternoon and becomes part of the life of his frontier family. He shoots, rides, does anything with effortless perfection, yet he is not at peace with himself. When an ugly land war invades the community, Shane's presence in the valley helps level the playing field. As he becomes personally involved in the disturbances, even those whose interests he sustains are sharply divided over the desirability of his presence in the region. Is he their savior, or a villain with trouble on his coattails? This is a great story that belongs in every home library.

Rating:
Summary: The wild, wild west--through a child's eyes.
Review: I understand completely why kids assigned this reading for school did not enjoy it. Though told through a young boy's eyes, the writing style is mature and uses many descriptive paragraphs. Though sometimes impatient with description, I loved the story all the more for the details; but some pre-high-school kids will become bored.

It's true that Bob's introspection is unusually discerning for his age. However, some remarks indicate that he could be writing this at a later time in his life, looking back on what happened with a wiser perspective. Either way, the author's depth of observation from an unlikely character can be forgiven as he elicits reader sympathy and understanding. Bob's view of his world may not always be reliable (especially when referring to his hero as "invincible"), but he is always endearing. Reading about Bob's naïve, honest idolization of the mysterious gunman, I wanted Shane to stay, too. And looking beyond Bob's innocent perspective, the mature reader sees things that Bob does not, understanding his parents as well as Shane even better than he does himself.

This work of art manages to stay short (120 pp.) without losing the substance and quality of much longer novels. Any shorter, and something would be missing. Any longer, and the added words or events would be unnecessary, lessening the "punch" that perfect length gives this tale. If all Westerns are as captivating as this jewel, maybe I'll try another one sometime!

Rating:
Summary: Before the rest, one of the best
Review: As a modern novel of the west, Shane stands up to the stories or myths of any literature. The symbols are strong, the message simple, the plot complex. Through it all, the truth prevails.

Campbell would approve of this version or episode of the hero's journey to tests and searching.

Rating:
Summary: Duty and Love
Review: What impresses me most about this novel is its seeming simplicity. When I saw the film version, I suspected I was missing something. There seemed to be more going on between Shane and Starret, and much more between Shane and the mother. The film only hints at the layers of love and duty that are manifest by Shane's selfless, heroic actions. Most heroic of all is his great gesture, his great sacrifice. He chooses not to love his soulmate, Mrs. Starret, because of the impact it would have on her son and her husband, both of whom he has also come to love.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent read!
Review: The book 'Shane' is very exciting. Good interpretation of symbols and an open mind is required to thoroughly enjoy this masterpiece. It is not simply about a boy and his family and a stump. Several themes are found in this novel: Attitudes to Power and Authority being the most prominent. Authority is seen in Joe Starrett. He is not chosen as leader nor were the homesteaders forced to comply with his decision to be leader but it was just accepted that he was their representative. On the contrary, Fletcher acquires his power because he already owns most of the land in that area and could be considered the wealthiest man. He abuses this power by forcing his ranch hands to bully the homesteaders into moving off the land. Fletcher becomes a despised character because of this abuse of power and it is noticed that when Fletcher was away the ranch hands were actually friendly with the homesteaders. Another theme is Love and Family Relationships: All through the book, the strong bond of the Starrett family is displayed. One instance is when the narrator (Bob- the son)remarks that he and his father would paint the house in rainbow colours just to please Marian (the mother). Another example is when Shane decided to face Wilson (a gun fighter hired by Fletcher) and Fletcher alone. Starrett was the one requested to face Wilson but Shane, knowing that Joe could easily be injured, knocked him out and went to the saloon. Other themes like: Heroism, Attitudes to the Past, Women In Society, among others are found in this novel. This is truly a work of art!!

Rating:
Summary: STOP!!!! Concider This Before You Buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This was the most pathetic book ive ever read in my life!!!It was about a boy, his family, and a stump! Why would anyone in their right mind want to read a book about a stump? I'll admit that at the end I had hope that it might end up being some what decent, but the last chapter was all about the boy calling for shane to come back. The only thing that got it a star was the fact that it was the shortest summer reading book I had.

Rating:
Summary: How the West was Won
Review: Not many western novels have been said to be a classic, but Shane is one of them Simmons 1). For not being from the West Jack Schaefer seems to have a commendable grasp on it (Tibbets 200). I believe Schaefer seems to have a deep understanding about the West and what went on in it. The selection of Wyoming for a setting also made the story relate to the West (Platt 1). Although Shane may not follow the traditional western fiction style, it has a different message, which is the fight between good and evil (Simmons 2). PS-Mr White is my favorite teacher in the world! And he really wants to give me the last day off!!!(PLEASE). MR.White...you are the coolest!! In this book Shane handles an ax, his fist, and gun with accuracy and thought, just as Schaefer handles his words (Platt 1). Because of this thoughtful writing, I think a variety of things in the book have a symbolic meaning, including the characters. Shane is a character that is hard to understand at first, but makes the story more interesting (Simmons 2). He represents what is done to prevent the bad things from happening (Platt 2). He keeps Starrett away from the having confrontation with the homesteaders by handling the conflicts himself. He may seem simple but he is actually a complex character (Simmons 3). Starrett represents what is good and right about America (Platt 2). He is loving and willing to fight for his family safety. The story is more entertaining to me knowing that there is a larger meaning. I believe Shane should not be read as a simple western story. It insists a deep response from the people who read it (Simmons 1). Although there is a lot of symbolism throughout the book, there is one main underlying theme (Simmons 2). I think that it is the theme that out of all of the corrupt things in the world eventually something good will come along. Shane has a universal meaning behind it and can be related to the entire world (Simmons 1). The struggle for peace is the fight for the farmers to grow and the homesteaders to decrease (Platt 1). Just as in the world we strive for good to prevail and evil to lessen. Shane is the type of book that will be read from generation to generation (Simmons 3) because of it's universality and grasp on the West. His writing was so well and honored in 1985 by the Western Writers of America because of his great understanding to the myth of the west (Tibbets 200). I liked reading a western that did not follow the traditional method but understood the concept of a western. PS-Mr. White is my favorite teacher and he wants to give me the last day off for this awesome paper!(PLEASE)