Red River-CJ Nicholas

An alpha male is essential to every Western, but what makes Red River different is the possibility of two alpha males; Dunson and Matt. While both have the characteristics of an alpha male as described by Matheson and Tompkins, I feel as though the role of the dominant cowboy changes throughout the movie from Dunson to Matt.
The start of the movie shows Dunson leaving his love Fen in order to fulfill his obligation to work, like all alpha males. Furthermore, Fen is murdered by a band of war Comanches, proving the idea that the western alpha male is alone. As Matheson claims, the alpha male is a "rugged individualist" and tends to live a life of "isolation". The strongest claim however that would make Dunson the alpha male of Red River, is his moral compass and desire to take Matt under his wing as an adopted son. It takes a strong "moral center" to be considered a "real man". This moral center and ability to act in the interest of the "highest good" eventually dissolves as the movie progresses and Dunson loses his control of the cattle drive and in essence so does his status as alpha male. The ability to make decisions and be firm in one's actions; two strong qualities of an alpha male, are taken from Dunson.
Instead, it is Matt that becomes the confident leader. After years of being submissive to the will of Dunson, the previous alpha male, Matt becomes the decision maker and a man of action. He stands up to Dunson and follows his own whim to the railroad. As Tompkins states, Matt now has "a sense of himself" (81) that he found throughout his travels with and without Dunson. Aside from Matt's ability to act and show confidence in the face of uncertainty, he also possesses another trait of the alpha male; silence. Tompkins states "silence establishes dominance" and "for a man to speak jeopardizes his status as potent being" (60). When Matt is in his hotel being warned of the return of Dunson by Tess, she spills into an intense rampage of words and all Matt does is kiss her.
With the progress of the movie, the role of the alpha males changes from son to father with the symbolic transfer of the cattle drive. While Matt learned from Dunson in the beginning of the movie, it is Dunson who learns from Matt that revenge is not always the solution, but instead a clear head.