The Landscape of Death

In every western, the landscape presented is grave and ominous. It stretches beyond what the eye can see and envelopes every inch of the screen always reminding the viewer how small we are in comparison. As Tompkins put it, it is the "landscape of death" (71). In The Searchers, many are faced with the decision to risk death or turn around at the will of the land, whether it be relentless snowstorms, icy nights, or sweltering days. Regardless of the time of day or exactly where the scene is located, the landscape is a perpetual obstacle always hindering or testing the limits of men.
Take for example the snowstorm that concealed the tracks Ethan was following or the sheer distance separating him from the Comanches, the landscape is always a ruthless barrier. While death is often found at the hands of mother nature, the "negations of the physical setting...are also its siren song" (71). These landscapes call for a stronger, more resilient will and separate the determined from the easily deterred. There is no middle ground when attempting to overcome these landscapes; it is success or failure and that often means life or death.
Because of the demand western landscapes have on men, "a code of values" (74) is ingrained in the sand, rock and sun. It is this demand that sculpts men like John Wayne into merciless and callous warriors that never let their goals escape their sight. In The Searchers, years go by without even a glimpse of Debbie and the only hope of her being alive is a suggestion from Mr. Futterman, yet John Wayne remains undeterred. Only a man capable of conquering these elements could remain steadfast, and vice versa. John Wayne is a product of his landscape, and for this reason has become known as a "hard, austere, and sublime" (71) hero.