The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - SC

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance displays the difference between men who live in the West and those men who live in the East. When Stoddard first arrives in the West he is attacked by Liberty Valance and is beaten badly. Stoddard was unprepared for the type of lawlessness that occurs in the West and had no means of protection. Even when confronted with an enemy who wishes to kill him Stoddard is still hesitant to perform the type of justice the West demands. Matheson explains that “Stoddard is associated with the feminine” (Hardboiled 903). According to her previous arguments women were usually reading stories of religion and attending church groups. I believe this is a proper analysis since he is seen throughout the movie performing feminine tasks as well as showing affection toward Hallie, something a true alpha male cowboy would never publically display.

There exist two alpha-male cowboys in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Liberty Valance and Tom Doniphon. Liberty Valance is a ruthless, remorseless antisocial psychopath who does what he wants when he wants. Liberty is a different kind of villain, while he is dressed in very proper clothing and displays proper manners and an interest in women, he “simply does not walk like a human being; the outlaw lumbers about lie an ape with his silver-headed cat-o’-nine –tails” (Hardboiled 895). Matheson is correct in her analysis of Liberty has he displays extreme disregard for the law of even dignified men. When he fought Stoddard instead of ending Stoddard’s misery, Valance decided to play with his kill shooting around him and letting Stoddard believe he might survive a one on one duel. This did lead to his down fall when Doniphon interfered but he displayed his true colors in his last moments of life.

The second alpha-male cowboy is Tom Doniphon. Matheson claims that Stoddard is correct when he claims that “there really is very little difference between Doniphon and Liberty Valance”(Hardboiled 896). While Matheson backs her argument up with some supporting details he later points prove her wrong as there is a distinct difference between Liberty and Doniphon. Doniphon does display characteristics that Liberty holds as well, he kills Liberty in cold blood and has accepted that without hesitation, a characteristic Liberty also shared. The difference and where I disagree with Matheson is the reasoning behind the action. Liberty kills and robs for this own gain, making him the villain of the West who abuses his power. Doniphon on the other hand kills Liberty out of duty. He knows that Hallie wants Stoddard alive and Liberty will surely kill Stoddard in a fight so he takes matters into his own hands and saves Stoddard. He then allows Stoddard to take his love and leave for a better life also out of duty. He was fully prepared to allow Stoddard to leave the town without the truth, except Stoddard couldn’t live with the idea of being a murder so Doniphon tells him in secret. Another act out of duty, Doniphon did not personally gain from his actions and in reality he lost his love and fame because of them; but he performed them anyway solely out of what needed to be done making Doniphon the only true alpha-male cowboy in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.