The Searchers
The savage persona, the war paint, the feathers and the beating drums are just some of the stereotypical images and attributes associated with Native American culture. The casting of Native Americans into villainous roles of early film and television has perpetuated a false perception of Native Americans that is still tied to their culture today. For centuries, Native Americans have been defined by stereotypical perceptions of Indian culture. These preconceived notions of Native culture are amplified if not derived from, the racially biased portrayal of Native Americans in the mass media and film throughout history. Though some of the modern depictions of Native Americans today are more positive and historically accurate, Indian culture still carries the stigma of the stereotypes and images established in early film and mediaSince its release in 1956, John Ford's The Searchers has become one o
Though the rest of Ethan's family was able to take Martin in and care for him, regardless of his bloodline, Ethan seems to be able to have no love in his heart for someone who is not completely white. When Ethan takes Debbie into his arms and takes her home. After marauding Comanches kill his brother's family and kidnap their youngest daughter, bitter, morally ambiguous Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards sets forth on a desperate quest to find his niece, Debbie, and save her from the "savages. Throughout the film Edwards pursues a band of Indians who killed his brother's family and captured the daughters, one of whom, Debbie (Natalie Wood), is still alive. Throughout the movie to this point, he was consumed with saving little Debbie. It seems that in showing this new-found anger, Ford is demonstrating that much of what Ethan's racism is based on, is miscegenation. Once Ethan realizes that Debbie has most likely engaged in sexual acts with either Scar (Henry Brandon) or other Comanche, his need to rescue her becomes overshadowed by his hatred toward her. Throughout the film, Ethan degrades Martin not only through his insults, but by trying to stop Martin from coming with him on the search. Upon seeing her in the hut, and realizing that she is no longer "little," that she has grown into a woman, he now wants to kill her. One of the most important actions that Ethan takes to demonstrate his racism takes place when he attempted to kill Debbie when she comes to tell Ethan and Martin to leave. At the center of the controversy is Ethan Edwards, played by John Wayne in what many consider his finest performance. Ford shows that no matter how grounded people are in their beliefs and their culture, there is always hope for them to open up their hearts and their minds to others, no matter how different they are. " In tow, however, he has young Martin Pawley, the adoptive son of the dead family. The film is a classic parable of a "journey into hell"--the hero (in this case the group) must undertake a journey that brings him face to face with mirror images of his own weaknesses and flaws, but in the form of powerful obstacles for him to overcome before he can pass through his hell and emerge, cleansed and reborn, into the light.
Common topics in this essay:
Martin Pawley,
Native Americans,
Brandon Comanche,
Ethan Martin,
John Wayne,
Ethan Edwards,
Natalie Wood,
,
Ford's Searchers,
native americans,
Native American,
ethan takes,
ethan's racism,
throughout film,
ethan edwards,
brother's family,
indian culture,
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Acceptance Essays
