Shane: The Loyal Gunman Cayla Jones College

Reflecting back on Shane, life in the West was fairly isolated compared to the way that we live now when many people will pass by our houses throughout the day. during the late 1800s many people were moving west, but there were not highly populated areas like those in the East. This isolation felt in the West plays a part in the Starretts’ acceptance of a lone stranger into their home. Not having many pass by their home the reason why the Starretts’ were welcoming to this man who may have been dangerous. However, they soon learned that he was a respectable man who was not a danger to them. Shane impressed each of the Starretts’ with his skill and charm that made him someone not to be afraid of, but to model themselves after. One of the qualities that was most respectable about Shane to the Starretts’ was his loyalty to helping them in their time of need.

Loyalty is one of the overarching topics that stood out to me while reading Shane because it played a role in his interactions with the Starrett’s. In the very beginning of the book after Shane arrives, Joe Starrett told Bob and Marian, "He's dangerous all right. …But not to us, my dear … In fact, I don't think you ever had a safer man in your house."(Shaefer 10). This comment...