MovieChat Forums > The Macahans (1976) Discussion > Why did the father go back?

Why did the father go back?

posted 13 years ago by questionz_99
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You may recall that just after the Macahans encounter the troop of federal soldiers headed east to get into the war, Timothy Macahan decides to return to Virginia.

Why?

The family left to avoid the war they knew was coming. Macahan couldn't do anything to save his farm. And don't tell me Macahan was returning for his parents. They already told him they weren't leaving.

If you've left everything to move your family to Oregon, why the heck do you turn around and go back?

[–] just1Hitch 11 years ago

I wondered about that too. Perhaps we are expected to believe he was suddenly overcome with guilt about leaving his parents when he heard about the war breaking out. If it was a plot device to get rid of the character it could have been handled in a much more believable way by having him die on the trip.

Excuse me for talking while you're interrupting.