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December 03, 2005
Girl of the Golden West
This was quite a different read than usual and I enjoyed it...surprisingly since I am not much for romance stories.
Thing first interesting thing that I found was the final ending of starting over and beggining a new life. "A new day...trust me. Trust me...A new life!" Both Johnson and Minnie were living lives of the unpure. There was drinking, gambeling, and robing. Even though Minnie seemed like a good girl she was still a participant in the bad deeds. The ending was one of hope. Since they were leaving the west and heading towards the east I wonder if this is some kind of message that the only people out west are ones of sinful living? I don't know....when I think of the west back then I think of shootings, robing, ect ect...What do you guys think?
Also the role of being a female and male was shown throughout the story. Even though Minnie was a strong woman she still showed signs of the way a typical woman should act. The scenes where she tears up, says she will wait for her man, and strong religious beliefs to stay pure show this type of sterotyping women. This can be compared to the men in the story who are shown jealous, tempermental, and hard-workers. Although Johnson is still shown emotional sometimes.
I also enjoyed the scene when Johnson first comes to the cabin and it is storming greatly outside and all the sudden when they finally get together the scene is filled with drama. The wind is knocking stuff all around and Johnson and Minnie are completely involved with each other that they don't notice. It is a great scene with a build up of emotions and then everything does wild. It made me laugh when I read it because it is so melodramtic. But I enjoyed it...don't get me wrong!
Posted by MichelleKoss at December 3, 2005 04:01 PM
Comments
Michelle- I also noticed the dominant role of a female in the play (check out my blog). Thats a good point to note that she still does show signs of a typical woman, like when she falls for Johnson and offers him things on the house, like the finest cigars and alcohol. She is flirtacious with him, but seems to maintain a strong business status with the other regular men in the bar.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at December 4, 2005 04:35 PM
Personally, I don't think you can have a western-ish story without the shooting and drinking. My mom is a hardcore "Bonanza" fan, and that show makes me a little sick with all of its gunfights and showdowns.
And the cabin scene was cheesy. Go figure that the wind would start blowing hard right then...
Posted by: Valerie Masciarelli at December 5, 2005 02:54 PM
I appreciated the female donminance that she counterbalanced with her girlishness as well. It reminded me of the modern woman and also one of the Western shows like Dr. Quin Medicine Woman. There was a lot of shooting going on and Sully seemed to think that he was an Indian. The melodrama is cheesy but quite satisfying when you think about the grim Scarlet Letter or the boyish Huckleberry Finn. I think this one was actually supposed to be for the girls in an odd way.
Posted by: Erin at December 6, 2005 08:47 PM
Ashley- good point that she only acts that way with the one she loves....not to every man.
Valerie - yes I agree you can never have a western without all the drinking and gambeling, but I think that this story showed a strong message that that is not the way to live.
Erin - yep i have to admit i liked the drama...it really got me into the story..i wanted to know what happened......it also reminded me of a modern woman too.
Posted by: michelle koss at December 7, 2005 04:39 PM