Unforgiven Movie Analysis

The dynamics within a group can change depending on who has the most power. In the film Unforgiven, certain characters take up a leadership role in their specific group. Set in the town of Big Whiskey, a pair of cowboys starts trouble when they cut up a prostitute named Delilah. Since they were not given a fair punishment for their crime, the group of prostitutes, led by Alice, decides to take revenge into their own hands. A reformed killer, Will Munny, decides to go after he cowboys with his partner Ned Logan and the Schofield Kid. Little Bill, the sheriff of the town, interferes with Munny’s plan since he set up a law saying that firearms are not allowed in Big Whiskey. After Munny’s group killed one of the cowboys, Little Bill and the rest …show more content…
As the authority figures of their groups, they felt a responsibility to find a way for them to come to terms with the actions that occurred in the past. After being caught, Ned was tortured by Little Bill for the truth of Will Munny’s identity and past. To celebrate the capturing of Ned, Skinny showcased his body outside his saloon for the town to see the affects of killers coming into the town. The article states that their study “found that people were more willing to forgive if those who had offended against them had been punished in some way.” (“Punishment Plays and Important Role in Forgiveness”). Though Munny was not yet ready to forgive the events that had occurred, he still followed through with the revenge on the town. By actively seeking revenge, Munny’s forgiving process was made a little bit easier since he was able to leave Big Whiskey on his own terms. The guilt he had over Ned’s death made him seek revenge since he felt he had a responsibility as a leader to watch over his group members. He had to punish those who hurt his partner since he felt as if it were his fault Ned had died. As the one who brought Ned into the group and unspoken leader, Munny thought it was his obligation to make things