FREE ESSAY ON SHANE

SHANE

Shane
Shane is a classic example of western fiction in which Schaefer contrasts the values of
the
isolated family 
farm with the lawlessness of the cowtown. Shane, the gunfighter protagonist, attempts to
find peace with 
the farmers but can only help clear away the violence for the civilization the farmers
bring. 
Schaefer 
reveals the difficult struggles of homesteaders who fight to bring justice to an
ungoverned
land, and strives 
to fulfill the hopes and promises of prosperity to their families. The reality in the
struggles
of these farmers 
were supported with an accurate correspondence to history (e.g. The Homestead Act) and
with detailed and 
atmospheric languages. The language is easily understandable and helps the reader to
better comprehend 
the book. It is simply a great page turner.
Although it is a fictional work, it does not fail to portray the harsh life style of the
westerners of 
the 1800's. While the book depicts some of the western struggles, it adds an element of
suspense as a novel 
as well with the battle between a protagonist and antagonists. Images of blood occur
often
in the book to 
emphasize the risk involved in living a western life, especially where justice does not
exist. 
The simple 
language of the book does not hinder from creating its lively images, rather it makes it
easier for the readers 
to comprehend the book. The absence of flashbacks or allusions further strengthens the
simplicity of the 
book. 
The story is told through the eyes of an omniscient observer who especially
concentrates on the 
Starrett family. Such concentration does not allow the reader to observe the lifestyles
of
other 
homesteaders; the Starrett family basically symbolizes the homesteader of that era. This
particular view-
point favors the triumph of good versus the evil. This old-fashioned philosophy on the
battles between the 
good versus evil is still a universal theme, and therefore is able to appeal to today's
young
readers. 
Despite the brevity of the book, Schaefer has included all the necessary items to
describe the lives 
of homesteaders: the struggle against famines, the competition for more land, etc. The
author has limited 
the sophistication of its language because the novel is geared toward younger ages, and
to
tell the lives of 
simple homesteaders in a simple and undisguised way. Furthermore, the author has
admirably utilized its 
simple language to bring a novel filled with gracious images of hope and death. The
universal theme of 
good versus evil creates the suspense required for the novel and is appealing even to
the
modern society. 
This novel is more than a mere juvenile literature because it teaches the cruelty of life
in
the society by 
using the homesteader, which can be better related to adults.