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Shane (novel)
Encyclopedia
Shane is a 1949 western book by Jack Schaefer
Jack Schaefer
Jack Warner Schaefer was a twentieth century American author known for his Westerns. His most famous work is Shane, which was made into a critically acclaimed movie, and the short story "Stubby Pringle's Christmas" .-Biography:Schaefer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of an attorney...
. It is often considered his greatest novel.
Plot
Note: This description is a combination of the movie and the book, and is not representative of the novel itself.A stranger who call himself Shane drifts into an isolated valley in the sparsely settled territory of Wyoming. It soon becomes apparent that he is a gunslinger
Gunslinger
Gunfighter, also gunslinger , is a 20th century word, used in cinema or literature, referring to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun...
, and he finds himself drawn into a conflict between simple homesteader
Homestead principle
The homestead principle in law is the concept that one can gain ownership of a natural thing that currently has no owner by using it or building something out of it...
Joe Starrett and powerful cattle baron Luke Fletcher, who wants to force Starrett and every other homesteader in the valley off the land. Shane accepts a job as a farmhand, but finds Starrett's young son Bob drawn to him for his strength and skill with a gun. Shane himself is drawn to Starrett's wholesomely charming wife, Marian but is scrupulous in his behavior towards her.
When Shane and the rest of the homesteaders go into town, Shane gets into a fistfight with Fletcher's men. With Joe's help, they beat up Fletcher's men, and the shopkeeper orders them out. Fletcher then declares that he and his men will kill the next time Shane or Joe return to the town.
As tensions mount between the factions, Fletcher hires stark Wilson, a skilled gunslinger. After Wilson kills Ernie Wright, a hot-tempered Alabama homesteader who had stood up to him, Joe Starrett decides to take it upon himself to kill Wilson and Fletcher and save the town. However, one of the cowpunchers, who declares that he's "quitting" Fletcher, tells Shane that Joe is "up against a stacked deck." Shane stops Joe, regretfully using his gun to hit Joe over the head and knock him out, knowing this was the only way to prevent Joe from facing Fletcher and getting killed. Bob yells at Shane, and then turns to his father. Shane saddles up and rides to the town. Unknown to Shane, Bob follows him into town, and witnesses the entire fight.
At the town, Shane walks into the saloon. He faces Wilson first; they both draw their guns and Shane shoots Wilson several times. Shane turns swiftly to his left and guns down Fletcher. Shane turns to leave. Bob warns Shane of danger. Fletcher's brother is on the staircase with a Winchester rifle, and is able to fire first. Shane returns fire killing Fletcher's brother. Shane then turns to leave. Outside Bob runs up to Shane. Shane asks Bob to take care of the homestead and to watch over his family. As Shane gets onto his horse Bob sees that he is wounded. Bob begs Shane to stay, but he explains why he cannot. Shane rides away into the night upright.
Characters
- Shane – the traveller and ex gunfighter, a mysterious gunman who enters into the life of Joe Starrett and his family and carves a place for himself in their hearts. Although he tries to leave his gunslinging past behind, refusing to even carry a gun, he decides to fight Fletcher and Wilson, the town enemies, in order to save Joe Starrett's farm. After he kills Fletcher and Wilson, he feels he must leave the town forever. (There is an unstated implication that he may be dying, as he departs.)
- Bob Starrett – farmer's boy who befriends Shane, Bob takes the reader out of the realm of adulthood. Looking at Shane and life through his eyes allows a different perspective; it is one of awe and reverence and one tempered by the boyishness of the Old West. Bob fancies guns and pretends to shoot Indians. He is a good boy, but his character is by no means developed. The impact Shane has on him is observable throughout and is probably greater than Shane's impact on any one other person. Shane cared about everyone in the Starrett family. Before Shane came along, Bob used to admire Fletcher and his men. After meeting Shane, Bob has a completely new definition of what it means to be a real heroHeroA hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
and finally has a real role modelRole modelThe term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
to fill that spot. Bob learns that being a man is not about toting guns or asserting dominance over others. He learns that being a man is about doing the right thing, and he looks to Shane time and time again for demonstration. Shane also affirms Bob's opinion about his father. Bob sees Shane's deep respect and loyalty to Joe, and Bob knows that his father is not like Fletcher's men, but is more like Shane—respectable and a true hero. - Joe Starrett – Bob's father, a Wyoming farmer who develops a rare and strong friendship with Shane. Joe is the understated hero of the book. Next to most people, he is a dominant respectable force—people often look to him as a hero. The only person who dwarfs Joe is Shane, but Joe is secure enough in his manhood that he never exhibits any jealousy toward Shane. He acknowledges that Shane is a better man and exhibits platonic love for Shane and not resentment for all his good qualities. This knowledge makes him want to glean as much from Shane as possible—his companionship, his friendship, his hard work at the farm. Joe's immediate embracing of Shane and Shane's character demonstrates that Joe knows a good man when he sees one and explains why he will not let Shane slip away. Like Shane, Joe comes through as well, even rescuing Shane from a dangerous situation. The relationship between them is mutual—they both give and take from each other in an easy, egalitarian fashion. Their relationship is based on their being tandem characters, who possess the same values.
- Luke Fletcher – one of the main antagonists of the story. He is out to claim all of his land back because he has acquired a new contract for as much beef as he can produce. Though the homesteaders now have legal right he sees them as squatters.
- Marian Starrett – Joe Starrett's wife. She remains mutual friends with Shane throughout the novel. She respects Shane greatly and loves him almost like a son or brother. Marian is very loved by her husband and son and she returns this honor with her love and fine cooking.
- Chris – one of Fletcher's followers, whom Shane beat up at the bar. He later asks to work for Joe, realizing the error in Fletcher's ways.
- Stark Wilson – Fletcher's gunman. Most likely hired to stop Shane.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
- 1953 film Shane, starring Alan LaddAlan Ladd-Early life:Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the only child of Ina Raleigh Ladd and Alan Ladd, Sr. He was of English ancestry. His father died when he was four, and his mother relocated to Oklahoma City where she married Jim Beavers, a housepainter...
, Jean ArthurJean ArthurJean Arthur was an American actress and a major film star of the 1930s and 1940s. She remains arguably the epitome of the female screwball comedy actress. As James Harvey wrote in his recounting of the era, "No one was more closely identified with the screwball comedy than Jean Arthur...
and directed by George StevensGeorge StevensGeorge Stevens was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer.Among his most notable films were Diary of Anne Frank , nominated for Best Director, Giant , winner of Oscar for Best Director, Shane , Oscar nominated, and A Place in the Sun , winner of Oscar for Best... - 1966 television series ShaneShane (TV series)Shane is an American Western television series based on the 1949 book of the same name by Jack Schaefer . The series was created by Herschel Daugherty and Gary Nelson, and starred David Carradine as the title character...
, starring David CarradineDavid CarradineDavid Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
and directed by Herschel DaughertyHerschel DaughertyHerschel Daugherty was an American television and film director and occasional actor.-Career:Born in Clarks Hill, Indiana, Daugherty directed various episodes of popular television shows such as Gunsmoke , Alfred Hitchcock Presents , Crusader , and Wagon Train...
and Gary NelsonGary Nelson (director)Gary Nelson is an American television and film director. He has directed many well-know television series, including Gunsmoke, The Patty Duke Show, Gilligan's Island and Happy Days among dozens of others...