glockjaw says > I really loved the irony of Tetley bringing his son along to help lynch in order to 'make a man out of him' considering his sons's epiphany at the end of the movie. Tetley did make a man out his son, but Tetley's definition of a 'man' is based on his own self-image and he's pathetic.
Let's not get carried away. Tetley was a fool but he was right about his son not being a man. He was trying to do right by him; he just went about it the wrong way. Let's consider what we knew about each of these men; starting with Gerald.
1. He seems to be an adult by age but he's living under his father's roof with no obvious means of support other than daddy dearest or whatever his mommy left him. A man, in my opinion, makes his own way.
2. He was living in the Wild West but he did not seem like someone who could handle himself in that environment. In the untamed west, even the women had to be tough and resourceful. He was neither.
3. He was unable to stand up to his father and did what he was told. The only time he even considered crossing him was when others were around to bolster him.
4. He could not think for himself. He was one of the seven who were against the lynching but did he really have a position? Would he have voted the other way if his father had been one of the seven? I suspect he was so determined to NOT be like his father he would've sided against him no matter what he said. That was the important thing.
5. For all his supposed gentleness and kind nature, he did not hesitate to kick a man when he was down; he piled on. He knew Tetley and the others were going to be held accountable for what they had done but that wasn't enough; he rejoiced in the fact he now had something to hold over his father's head.
He kills himself partly because his son is the better man, Tetley realizes it, thus shattering his conceited conception of 'manliness' and destroying the world he bullied everyone into supporting.
Have you learned anything from watching this movie; like things aren't always what they seem; don't jump to conclusions; rely on evidence, not emotions, etc.
1. It's possible Tetley killed himself because of the guilt and shame he felt over what he had done. Maybe he also realized he had wronged his son; not because of what Gerald said or who he was but because of the events of the day.
2. Locking Gerald out of the house was the kindest thing his father ever did for him; forcing him to go his own way. Gerald didn't see it like that. He seemed content to continue on as before. Instead of being upset over being locked out he should never have been there. The lynching should have been the last straw and reason for him to cut ties and make his own way in the world.
3. Tetley denied the men a fair trial and had a hand in sentencing them to death. He believed death was the penalty for murder so he deserved the same fate. He saw to it his sentence was carried out too.
4. Is Gerald a better man than his father? In my opinion, he's not. In fact, by the end of the movie, Tetley had him beat. Tetley was wrong but he had good intentions and participated in the affairs of the town. Gerald would have been perfectly content to stay home; contributing nothing to no one. An effective judicial system requires participation. Gerald is the type to avoid jury duty; Tetley, if selected, would probably be the foreman.
5. Tetley seemed to learn from his mistakes. He had a shady past but had gained the respect of the people in town. Maybe he tried to be a better man. Though he was not alone, he took full responsibility for his part of the lynching instead of trying to shift or share the blame. Gerald didn't seem to learn much. If there was a change in him it was for the worse. The only irony is that he became the bully his father had been with him. The difference is, having been on the receiving end, he should have known better. The king is dead, long live the king.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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