Comparing The Revenant And The Hateful Eight

Western stories share a multitude of themes. The Revenant and The Hateful Eight show themes of violence, and nature. Both films use these themes to show the brutal power of the elements, along with the abusive nature of people. Westerns have a long standing relationship with violence. Violent ideas, and themes help show the power of characters throughout the story. In The Revenant violence is the main drive for Hugh Glass to enact revenge on Fitzgerald. The motivation for Glass to push through the cold-hellscape, ripe with danger and struggle, is to see Fitzgerald dead. Even Glass’s reason for the revenge is due to Fitzgerald murdering Hawk, Glass’s son. This cycle of violence continues when Glass gives up Fitzgerald to be killed by the native …show more content…
Nearly all the characters in this film have some sort of violent background; there are soldiers, bounty hunters, criminals, and executioners. The story is fueled by the idea of seeing Daisy Domergue, a female fugitive criminal, being hanged for her crimes. However more forms of violence ensue. Throughout the film Domergue is constantly being hit, and even cuffed against her will by John Ruth. Major Marquis Warren, an african american bounty hunter, shows multiple forms of violence throughout the movie. Warren kills Bob, Jody, and Smithers all in the haberdashery. Warren even recounts freezing, raping, and killing General Smithers son before murdering him. During the Civil War, Warren even burns down a confederate prison, killing both confederates and union soldiers. Every situation that Warren is thrown into is solved with violence. Whenever Warren is faced with a racial issue, violence is usually the outcome. When dealing with confederates and “negro hunters”, Warren has no issue murdering racists. John Ruth and the gang of Domergue criminals solve their financial problems with violence; by either capturing or robbery. Oswaldo’s