Kane fights off the murders no matter what the odds, he ends up getting out-casted, and even accosted by other members of the community but still he remains true to his beliefs and continues to fight the good fight. BA in the film, “ high noon” is a Classic depiction of the “American hero”
A loner, a rebel, going out on a limb BA will potentially sacrificing everything that is important to him to do what he knows is right. film fits directly into reiches theme of the “triumphant individual”. One little man, hostering two guns, against a band of four murderers and renegeades, BA is the triumphant individual. Kane could have moved out of town and stayed out of town, BA coiuld have split when he couldn’t form a posse, Ba could have hid and waited for the renegades to leave. But Kane is an American hero, he stood proud and tall to face his enemies, and the only thing to have his back is the wind and tumbleweed.
The community Kane is supporting, offers him little, just as in Peter Marins article entitled, “Helping and Hating the Homeless”, and Charles Derber’s essay “The god man fills his own stomach”, whereas the community members refuse to believe in the severity of the problem at hand. Perhaps the general indifference to the situation can be considered a defense mechanism where a problem that is kept out of sight, and out of mind, is out of the communities control to stop, and are not only reluctant to help, but defensive towards the solution
The community is offset and the balance of the world is tilted, the people that live in it are defensive and afraid. They have been abruptly shaken from their quiet and safe world. In Katherine Newmans essay “American Nightmare”, the main charecture experiences a similar situation as the people in High Noons town, with the metaphorical rug being ripped out from under their feet as the news that Millers return is announced. The only one that can help these towns folk is the main charecture Kane. Who being recently demoted from his position as the town marshall comes parading valiantly home to save the town.
This theme is remarkably similar to and seems to epitomizes the O’rourke essay entitled “Slamming and Jamming”, when depicting vigilantes with integrity. In both High Noon and Slamming and Jamming, main characters sacrifice their own well being for the good of the community. In o’roukes essay the Hells angels remove vile drug dealers and lord, but the long lasting effect on the community are very similar.
In, High Noon, BA needs to stop the criminals from reaching the town, or else things will go back to the old days and the town will no longer be “ suitable for raising a child”. In both stories, the vigilantes are the only things stopping the evildoers from collapsing the goodness of the community. As well, the community is so vunerable to these evils that their mere presents will be that catalyist that leads these communities to distruction. Stopping the criminals from reaching and/or infecting the town is of the utmost priority.