True Grit:

           In True Grit, the American Adam myth is shown in the book, but not through a man but a child. Its almost like a play on the "Child Savior" myth, for children are usually portrayed as innocent and pure. Yet, she was an amazing sharp dealing business woman, especially compared to grown men in that business. She feels the need for justice, she is the heroic child in the western genre. One can also see theses traits in Rooster, the old grumpy hot head of a man who is not very honest. The book is set at the end of the frontier time, Rooster has already lived that and in the world now there is no room for him.LaBoeuf is a horrible guy, when reading about him you just get angry. He is the obstacle to Mattie, he is full of himself and she takes him down. Mattie is an idealist, sees life as black and white, and she is going to make sure justice is served. Rooster on the other hand, has been around and he sees more grey than black and white. Rooster and Mattie balance each other out, and due to this, results in the outcome of the book. 

           Both seem to be outside the mainstream culture, but LaBoeuf is a total parody of the mainstream culture, caring all about appearances instead of what is truly happening. Mattie and Rooster see right through him. The American Adam is supposed to be wealthy and Mattie eventually fits this, she basically funded the entire expedition and took leadership throughout this expedition. A western tends to be filled with men who are living out there fantasies and woman being eye candy. True Grit puts this trend on its head with Mattie. The American Eve Myth serves as the female counterpart to the American Adam Myth. Mattie has almost adopted male traits in the book, but she is not in a box for she will do what she needs to in order to get stuff done instead of feeling that she needs to be a man to do it. 

          The Myth of male camaraderie is very evident in the film Dead Man. With Blake and Nobody to the three "settlers" (outlaws) that were eating beans around the campfire. True Grit, the father of Mattie had the American dream, hoping for the classic rags to riches life. I feel that there is a camaraderie between Mattie and Rooster, though not both males share a bond throughout the book. The American dream is not a group activity, it was a individual dream that was shown as a competition. You are competing to survive, this is an achievement that should be found on your own. The antagonists of the book are more cooperative with each other, they are strong through working together towards a similar goal, like gangs or mobs. The idea of the individual verses the collective is often found in the western genre. 

         Overall I enjoyed the book. The point of view of the book I found very interesting for it was told from an older Mattie Ross, and I found her voice to be really compelling. She gives life advice while talking about this manhunt in Indian Territory. I found that the overall story tended to have a rhythm, not much of a rise and fall, but a very even tempo. The sentences are simple, but once you thought a thought was finished, another would follow about the same topic. Also a wide range in tone, having dull mundane facts to a gory scene to a heart felt note. I thought this was an interesting writing style for I had not read a story with this type of style before.

         I also found the overall narrative theme of revenge interesting for it reminded me of popular films like Mean Girls or The Incredibles. Mattie felt that is was her responsibility to avenge her father’s death, as if it was the only course of action she soul take. I found it almost funny that even when she lost her left arm there was still no sign that she regretted her actions. In the end I enjoyed the book especially since it is close to my roots since I grew up in Texas. I have always enjoyed westerns, there’s a cowboy museum close to my home and we use to go every year with my school and while reading I would often picture pieces from that museum.