How True Grit Breaks Mythology

In the novel True Grit by Charles Portis, it explores the themes of what a Western drama can be. Following Mattie Ross after her father was killed by Tom Chaney, she tries to persuade the help of Marshall Ruben Cogburn, to help find Chaney, and kill him. On the other hand, a Texas Ranger named Le Boeuf is also after Chaney to bring him to Justice. While heading into the wild lands to find Chaney, Mattie also has the passion to join the two men on their mission, but is rejected by the two for thinking she would slow them down, or get in their way. It isn't until Le Boeuf takes it too far, and torments Mattie that Cogburn nearly kills him, and allows Mattie to come along. Throughout the journey, all three learn to respect one another more, especially Cogburn to Mattie, almost becoming like a father-figure to her, and continuously search for Chaney until the job is done.
True Grit as a story is a Western thriller, and action story as it continues on, giving more of a suspenseful feeling what will happen next. How it comments on American society during the time is to depict the world as a harsh, cruel, and overall lethal time to live in. Lethal implying that anyone could be killed at any time. It is also one of the first stories in the Western Genre to have a female lead in the largest part of the story. It is true that Cogburn, and Le Boeuf have the main leads, but for Mattie, it's just as much her story as well. Which was pretty rare at the time. To have a strong female lead, not be the damsel in distress breaks the myth.
It also tries to tackle the American myth of the human character, and how far they can be willing to go to achieve their goal. There are also showings of the different nature of characters in the book, and in the two movies. The rich, and the poor. The rich for example are high class, and are fully proper for the time, coming off more as modern. The poor on the other hand, are more animalistic, and sometimes crazy. That way they can be seen as animals.
Towards the end of the book, Mattie falls down a snake hole, and is attacked by a rattle snake. She was poisoned, yet still survived thanks to Cogburn, but the snake represents the world coming after us, and wanting to kill us when we least expect it to.
In conclusion, True Grit follows the story of the West through its mythology, and tone. However it continues to be relevant today, as many areas of the world still haven't become modern, or civilized as us. Showing more of a grit to the population.

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