Cowboy Masculinity

Masculinity is an extensive concept that is prevalent in many films. Filmmakers embed this concept in their films in order for viewers to model. Masculinity can be defined in several different ways, but in general terms, it is the capability of stepping up in situations. In a classic Western film, taking place in a distant town of Big Whiskey, whores offer service for cowboys at a bar. One day, two cowboys, Quick Mike and Davey Bunting cut up and scar a whore Delilah Fitzgerald, after her smirk remark towards Quick Mike. As a consequence, Strawberry Alice and the other prostitutes set up their revenge for the disturbing event by arranging a bounty to kill the two cowboys. All of these events trigger many killers and cowboys to pay Big Whiskey …show more content…
Many women supported prohibition, banning of alcohol because alcohol was the key to unlocking a more masculine man. Alcohol allowed men to do things that they would not do when sober. With regards to this, director Clint Eastwood purposely named the town Big Whiskey because it was the stage of where cowboys demonstrated the most masculine traits. Not to mention, alcohol was actually a major boost and helped many cowboys overcome others; cowboys without it showed weakness. It all started with English Bob, a big mouthed patriotic English gun-fighter, who came into Big Whisky sober. He encountered the sheriff of Big Whiskey, Little Bill. Even though Little Bill was not drunk, he was the symbol of Big Whiskey and of course he had some power over English Bob. Since English Bob did not take a sip of alcohol, he did not have the power to act or stand up against Little Bill. Instead of English Bob defeating Little Bill, he is demolished and basically sent back as a message to stay out of Big Whiskey. The next man to enter Big Whiskey was the Schofield Kid. He came prepared for a fight; he never was sober and always drunk. Alcohol gave him a power to move out of his comfort zone and take action towards the situation. Alcohol helped him lead into shooting Quick Mike, his first ever kill. When William Munny entered Big Whiskey, he was sober throughout their quest in killing the …show more content…
During the course of the story, men sized each other up and treated women like animals. Throughout the film, Skinny treated his whores like his property. When Delilah was cut up, Little Bill asked the cowboys to pay Skinny, but not the whores. The women were so deindividualized that none of them were willing to stand up to the cowboys. Men during this film were more superior than the women. Men still had the right to live as full human beings. Men rather than women had more masculine traits and the ability to stand up for themselves. In a couple of attempts, Strawberry Alice tried to stand up for herself, but the cowboys, such as Skinny, stood taller than her and dominated her own sense of masculinity. Women during this time, did not have the power to stand up or be treated as an