Butcher's Crossing

  1. Background- Written by John Williams in 1960 (Miller, Intro).
  2. Plot Summary- Andrews is inspired by a speech and the ideals of Emerson, decides to strike out from Boston to experience Nature firsthand (intro). Andrews teams up with Miller, Schnieder, and Hoge to go hunting (Morton).
  3. Characters- Andrews: Young, impressionable, inspired by Emersonian thought. Father is Unitarian preacher (Intro); Miller: Ruthless hunter (Morton); Hoge: one-handed, full of Western stereotypes (Intro).
  4. Themes- Femininity (Morton); Nature (Morton; Intro); Capitalism (Morton)- intrusion of such into natural processes. Speaks of the butchering of buffalo for monetary purposes; Western romance (Intro)- refutation of romance for reality; Formation of the individual (intro); National identity (Intro)
  5. Style- Written in a serious tone, unlike other members of its genre (Intro);
  6. Critical Reception- Considerable praise from critics, but poor sales and general obscurity (intro); Considered a "western masterpiece" by many (Morton);