3:10 to Yuma tells the
story of notorious outlaw Ben Wade and the journey he makes from a stage
coach to a train. The stage coach is owned by a wealthy railroad company and is
transporting cash the company has earned. The train is also owned by the
railroad, and it is heading to a city with a federal prison. Ben Wade robs
the coach (his 22nd robbery of this same railroad company), but willingly
hands over his famous pistol called The Hand Of God, and on his own Wade
gets on the train and heads off to Yuma prison without anyone making him.Dan Evans was part of the hired posse charged with getting Wade on the train. Dan is a poor, one-legged, struggling rancher whose wife and eldest son do not respect him or consider him heroic. But when the opportunity to get paid a large sum by the railroad for transporting Wade to the prison train, Evans has no choice but to volunteer for the mission. The journey is not easy at first, and Wade is both ruthless and unrepentant. Talking about his life's work, Wade at one point even declares, "It's man's nature to take what he wants, Dan." But toward the end of the movie, when Wade has the upper hand and can end his captivity in an instant, Evans tells Wade that he is not only not a hero, but his life is somewhat, up to that point, disgraceful. Wade agrees and then takes over, leading Dan Evans to the train, and voluntarily getting on the train, for Dan and the sake of his family.
Questions for discussion
What do think of the Marshal's argument that you only have to fight evil if it's a fair fight?
And when is facing evil EVER a fair fight?
What is a hero? What is a heroic action?
What is the significance of the boy William choosing not to shoot Ben Wade?
What is a hero? What is a heroic action?
What is the significance of the boy William choosing not to shoot Ben Wade?
Why do people change, if ever?
(Why does Wade kill his own men? Why does he get on the train in the end?)
The Evans boy claims that people--even Wade--are not all bad; how is he right and how is he wrong?
What does the backdrop of the Wild West lend to heroic tales? How does that setting help tell tales like this?
How does the movie tie into Conan O'Brien's address to Dartmouth? (Who failed? Who didn't? Who uses a failure for a reinvention?)
Verses to use in the discussion
Romans 15:1-2; John 3:17; Romans 12:6-8; Philippians 4:8-9; Proverbs 19:1; Leviticus 19:18; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3
I agree with Marshal's argument since God wouldn't want us to necessarily go out and physically fight evil unless if it endangers us. Instead of seeking revenge, God wants is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). God doesn't want evil/sin to reign forever, for Christ is to come again and spread goodness (2 Corinthians 5:17). Facing evil is a fair fight when our lives are in danger or our faith is being put to the test. Heroes are those who are defined as courageous, having noble qualities, and having outstanding achievements. I'd think that Christian martyrs are heroes. They would sacrifice themselves instead of recanting their Christian beliefs. Instead of choosing to live in denial, they chose to die in faith. Heroic actions lead us to ponder our loyalty to something, whether it would be to God or an other supreme being. When William didn't shoot Ben Wade, it proved his loyalty to his father, who is moralistic. People change once they witness others doing good or bad deeds. They get swayed from one side or the other. Wade ends up killing his own men and getting on the train out of respect for Dan. Ben Wade had witnessed Dan's integrity and perseverance which lead him to those actions. The Evans boy is somewhat correct in saying that people are not all bad. Everyone is sinful, but murderers and criminals are controlled by larger, mortal sins. Therefore, they cannot be all good. But, as shown in the movie, not all criminals, like Ben Wade, aren't capable of mercy and respecting others. However, overall, they cannot be good since their hearts are overrun by evil. Usually, stories in the Wild West often involve a cowboy ending up as the hero. Amongst the harsh conditions in the desert, there is some sort of good or hero. Retribution and revenge are common themes in western films. Dan is seen as the hero of the movie since he's seeking revenge on those who have taken his property by completing the mission of taking Wade to the train station. The movie connects with O'Brien's speech when he says that as you grow older, your dreams change and that you are going to eventually fail. Ben Wade did change in this movie once he showed his respect for Dan. Dan thought he failed in life since he lost his leg while serving in the army, but he didn't end up failing since he completed his mission. Dan saw his "failure" in the past as perseverance to fight evil by getting Ben Wade to Yuma prison.
ReplyDeleteI think we should always fight evil no matter the odds. If we are with God, He is with us. Even though we are commanded by God in Leviticus 19:18, to love our neighbor as ourself, we are also commanded to fight evil as Ephesians 6:10-13 states, "finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." Facing evil is never a fair fight but we, as followers of Christ are to be courageous and stand firm in our faith (1 Corinthians 16:13). William choosing not to shoot Wade proves that William is not the same man as Ben Wade. If William had killed Wade, he would be the same as Wade, a murderer. People are always changing in either big noticeable ways or in small increments by witnessing an act or coming to a realization. Wade kills his own men because they killed William and because he wanted to protect William's family since William wouldn't be able to anymore. Wade witnessed William's integrity and his love for doing the right thing and for his family, which is why Wade got on the train. Also, Wade knew he wouldn't be going to prison, he would escape. So, for Wade to get on the train, that was an act of kindness and integrity on his part for William and William's son. The Evans boy is correct in saying that not all people are bad. However, I think he didn't mean it in the way that it sounds. I think he meant that there are good people even though we all sin. In the end, everyone's sin is the same in God's eyes. However, here on earth, murderers and criminals are viewed worse than those who give to charity but lie occasionally for example. In western films, there is always a hero in the midst of a desert and the bad rancher who steals or murders from the town. The backdrop has the atmosphere for tales such as the one of Ben Wade and William. This movies connects with O'Brien's speech by him discussing the fact of failing and changing as one ages. Ben Wade changed once he saw that Dan was not a hero but was trying to be for unselfish reasons. Ben Wade saw that William did not fail and helped him complete his mission.
ReplyDeleteTo only fight when it is fair is very logical but unapplicable. Like you said, it won't ever be fair. Its more important to try and do the right thing than worry about how level the playing field is. A hero is the person who is actually willing to do the right thing when it looks like it will not turn out well for them like sacrificing their life to save a stranger. When William didn't shoot Ben Wade he kept his heart intact but put himself in a dangerous position where Wade could come back and kill him. People either change for selfish or reasons or because maybe the spirit moved them to after a life changing event. In the wild west there is more simplicity and a clarity between right versus wrong so it is easy to tell who the bad guy is (they usually wear the black cowboy hat). This ties into the speech because O'Conhan's point was that goals can change, Wade's did. He turned into a better person for trying to help Evans prove himself to his son and then not hurting William but rather letting William believe his father died a hero by being brave enough to do what no one else would despite the cards being stacked against him.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the Marshal's argument, but I understand his situation. Out of well-warranted fear, the Marshal believed that the only way to escape alive was to back down from fighting. However, as Christians our job isn't to muster up strength on our own, because even when temptations and Satan cannot beat the power of God.
ReplyDeleteA hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice their own desires, safety, and needs for the sake of others, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. Self-sacrifice, humility, charity, and service are heroic. By choosing not to shoot Ben Wade, William recognized that he wasn't completely evil and that Wade had at least tried to save his father's life.
When a person's view of the world, others, or themselves changes, that person too will change. Wade killed his men because he realized that Dan didn't deserve to die, not now anyway. In order to honor Dan's death, and make sure that his family is provided for, Wade gets on the train. This ensures that the Evans' water will flow, they will receive $1,000, and no one will disturb their property again.
The movie resembles Conan O'Brien's address to Dartmouth in that it acknowledges how people can change. Wade was still intent on taking for himself what he wanted and living as he wanted, but he killed his men and got on the train. Even Wade saw that a man as genuine and good as Dan, deserves to be honored.
I think that you should never go out and fight evil all the time. It is not good to get revenge and redemption all the time. So, I agree with Marshal's argument. However, that creates a very cloudy line for what is a fair fight or not. Could we opted out of a fight just because we are lazy ad don't want to do it? When fighting sin, it is a never ending battle, but we do pick and chose what we want to fight. I think William decided not to shoot Wade because in the end they were equals. Wade gave up his freedom and William lost his father. Wade gave up everything and killing his men kind of made up for the death of William's father (although it didn't completely fix it). Romans 12 6-8 talks about how we all have different gifts. We all have different purposes. Williams father needed to die and Wade needed to go to prison.
ReplyDeleteI think that the marshal was being a wuss when he said that you should only fight if its fair. It doesn't seem like it would ever be a fair fight, considering that evil usually has some twisted advantage. A hero is a person who makes personal sacrifices for a greater good. Heroic action is significant because it shows that people have the ability to act ubselfishly. It is significant that the boy William choosing not to shoot Ben Wade because he honors that his father wanted him in the train. People change when they see actions of others that they admire or hate. He kills his own men because he sees that they have no humanity or mercy and were only selfish and evil. Wade gets on the train out of the respect for Evans' persistence and honor like in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.
ReplyDeleteThe Evans boy claims that people--even Wade--are not all bad. He is right that all people have the potential to be good, but wrong because all people are inherently bad. The backdrop of the Wild West lend to heroic tales because of the bareness of the land and the harsh conditions. The movie ties into Conan O'Brien's address to Dartmouth, because even though Evans failed, he still was the most successful than he had ever been.
Evil is never a fair fight, so the Marshal's argument is invalid. Someone always has the upper hand, whether it's the "hero" or the villain. A hero can be anyone, even if what they did was minimal. People idolize "heroes", but they are just regular people doing their jobs and fighting for what they believe in. If William Evans had shot Ben Wade, he would have become just like him. William did not want to be like Wade at all. People change for many different reasons: love, family, disasters, etc. Wade changed and killed his own men because he realized how awful they really were. He changed because he saw how much Dan Evans would do to keep his family alive and safe. William claimed that people are not all bad and he is partially right; Wade defended his own mother and tried to help Dan Evans in the end. Wade's men, on the other hand, had no good in them at all; they killed anyone who got in their way. Conan O'Brien's speech ties into the movie perfectly, "goals can change". Ben Wade's goals changed and so did Conan's, both for the better.
ReplyDeleteEvil is only a fair fight when you have something holy to fight it with, in Marshalls case his holy component was his son and his drive to teach morals to his son William. William looked up to Ben Wade but no in a manner of wanting to pursue his lifestyle or career but more of taking what he found to be good in Wade and taking what good traits his father had to shape himself into the man William desired to be and altough his father was his hero his father did not feel as if he was a man for his son to look up to. Mashall felt morally responsible to escort Ben Wade to the train station even if he died in the act as a way to prove to his son that he was a true hero by doing the right thing even if he died trying. people change from day to day because each day we have a new problem arise and hav to decidd how to handle esch occasion. in Ben Wades case, Marshall told him that he was not a war hero and had been injured in a accident not a battle and felt as thoughhe was giving his boys a false belief thinking he was a hero so Wade let Marshall deliver him to the train station and ended up killing his own crew for killing Marshall and saving William to fufill Marshalls moral duties
ReplyDeleteEvil is something that is difficult to just attack. But as Christians We have God to stand with us and to help us through our struggle with evil. I do not think that we are ever really at a even playing field with evil and that is why we need God as it says in John 3:17. In regards to Marshall's argument, it not that the fight with evil is fair its more of the fact of what kind of challenge are you up for. Not shooting Ben Wade shows that William believed in change and forgiveness, as Colossians 3:13 states. True change cannot be seen by others until you can prove or show it. In the address to Darthmouth, Conan O'Brien talks mainly about failing and changing. It is okay to fail throughout life, it happens to everyone. In this movie is where change is represented, the outlook on life from multiple people.
ReplyDeleteYou cant fight evil. Its impossible because it will always be there lingering. Jesus was the only one able to fight evil. When William didn't shoot Wade it was because Wade helped Williams father. He could see that Wade had some good in his heart and wade was upset when his men killed Williams father. Not all people are bad because they can try not to do bad and they can always have the best motives.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Marshal's argument that you only have to fight evil if it is a fair fight. I don't think it is ever good to just go out and fight evil. Most likely, evil will win because we are all made sinners and we will let evil get the best of us. So it wouldn't be a fair fight in the end because evil would already win. We will always need God like it says in John 3:17. I think that a hero is someone who saves you as a person or just from dying in general. A hero is one that wants to try and change the world for the better good. I think William not shooting Ben Wade was significant because maybe he saw Ben as the hero and he basically saved Dan's life through the whole movie. If someone were to change, it wouldn't be for someone else, it would be for themselves. I've changed for myself, not for what everyone else wanted me to be. I think Ben Wade killed his own men because they weren't true men, they didn't have a moral conscience and they all turned their backs on their own kind. Ben eventually got back on the train to honor Dan's death and dignity. And yes, I think William is right about how some people are not all bad. Somewhere deep inside someone, they have some dignity left.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Marshal's argument that you only have to fight evil if it is a fair fight. I don't think it is ever good to just go out and fight evil. Most likely, evil will win because we are all made sinners and we will let evil get the best of us. So it wouldn't be a fair fight in the end because evil would already win. We will always need God like it says in John 3:17. I think that a hero is someone who saves you as a person or just from dying in general. A hero is one that wants to try and change the world for the better good. I think William not shooting Ben Wade was significant because maybe he saw Ben as the hero and he basically saved Dan's life through the whole movie. If someone were to change, it wouldn't be for someone else, it would be for themselves. I've changed for myself, not for what everyone else wanted me to be. I think Ben Wade killed his own men because they weren't true men, they didn't have a moral conscience and they all turned their backs on their own kind. Ben eventually got back on the train to honor Dan's death and dignity. And yes, I think William is right about how some people are not all bad. Somewhere deep inside someone, they have some dignity left.
ReplyDeleteI think fighting evil has nothing to do with fairness but everything to do with morals. Just because evil doesn't play by the rules, we should still confront it if it is wrong. I believe a hero is someone who fights for justice selflessly and not at the expense of other people. Fighting for God and what He stands for is the only justified fight. Even Paul refers to our lives as "fighting the good fight". I've wondered a lot whether a person can truly change. I can't think of an instance where I observed significant change in a person without help from God and the Holy Spirit. We can say we will change, we can try with all our might. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We can only change with God's help and our acceptance of His guidance.
ReplyDeleteWe must fight evil that is required of us. We also must fight no matter the odds. The verse Luke 17:33 "Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, whoever loses their life will preserve it. The sheriff and his men tried to save their lives by surrendering and leaving so they lost it when they were gunned down. Dan lost his life getting Ben to the train. Yet while he did he also preserved because his death caused Ben to get on the train fulfilling his side of the deal with the Railroad Man.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to make fighting evil fair, but you can always try to fight evil with kindness and wisdom. In Leviticus, God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. So even if people are evil, we should try to be kind. We should use Christian teachings and morals to fight evil. Dan used what he knew against Ben, but Ben didn't give in to Dan's deal. Ben was tempted, but he wasn't as vulnerable as Dan thought. And it turns out that Dan wasn't pure evil. Both men felt the need to keep their feelings inside to protect others. When Ben got shot, Dan realized what it meant for him to get on the train. Ben was a hero because he was the only one with the courage to get Dan on the train.
ReplyDeleteI don't think evil is ever fair to fight I think the only thing you can do to fight evil is to do the right thing and let justice prevail. I think a hero is someone. Who is very brave and courageous and doesn't let anyone get in their way to do what's right. William didn't shoot wade because he saw that wade was trying to change for example when he is helped williams father kill wades guys. I think people start to change when they see that they're hurting way too many people especially when those people really good to them.
ReplyDeleteI believe people should attempt to fight evil no matter, whether evil has the upper hand or not. The world would be a terrible place if people just surrendered to evil. Personally I think of a hero as someone who puts their life on the line to help other people and not expect anything in return. For example soldiers go to war every day and risk their lives just to have the satisfaction of knowing they’re keeping their home country safe. William not shooting Ben Wade is a sign of purity, his father explains to Wade that he did a good job raising his children. William knows that he should not be killing people therefore he does not. People can change, either they grow up or something big happens in their lives and they realize it is time for a change. Wade kills his own men because he liked Dan and his men killed Dan. Wade realized he had been living wrong this whole time and changed his ways. This movie ties into Conan's speech because Wade failed at first by killing all those men, but in a way he repents at the end by helping out Dan on his deathbed. Even though Dan dies he still did not fail. He made it his mission to earn his son's respect and get Ben Wade on the train. Right before he died he did both of those things.
ReplyDeleteI dont complete agree with Marshall's argument because you should fight evil if you have the chance. I dont think there is ever a fair fight facing evil. A hero is someone who is admired for their courage. A heroic act is doing something that might not benefit you but will help someone else. Choosing not to shot Ben Wade shows that he values life. People change when they feel like they need to and feel like it would benefit themselves and others. Wade kills his own man to because they killed an innocent man that he cared for. I don't think the Evans boy was right when he claimed that people are not all bad because everyone is inherently bad and sinful. The wild west lends to heroic tales because we relate all the horses and guns with heroic tales. No one failed at the end of this movie. Even though Dan died he taught his son many things and it began his legacy. And in the end Ben Wade got on the train so he did not fail either.
ReplyDeleteI think the Marshal's comment about only having to fight evil if it's a fair fight is bologna. Evil is never a fair fight but we are still called to fight it even if we know we won't win. A hero is someone that is a symbolic representation of what is good and righteous and just. By William not shooting Wade, it symbolized the recognition that we don't have the authority to decide who dies and when they die. That authority is only in the hands of God. People change due to experiences or epiphanies that alter their way of viewing life around them. The Evans boy's claim that people aren't all bad is right because there is goodness in everyone. Sometimes it may not seem like it because the goodness is being so over run by the evil in them but it is still there. Although, sometimes the evil is so overpowering that it doesn't allow the goodness to show through even a little bit, as seen in Wade's gang members. Conan's speech about your current goal won't always be your future goal was perfectly displayed in Ben Wade. Wade's goal was to rob for money and stay out of prison but in the end he willingly gets onto the train to go to prison out of respect for Dan and his son.
ReplyDeleteFighting evil is never a fair fight. We are called to fight evil wherever and whoever it may be. The Marshal is wrong about his claim and is a coward for stating it with such audacity. Ben Wade's transformation did not end until he heard Dan's story. People can change and it may take a lifetime to change them but it is worth it. Ben Wade fails by committing so much sin and breaking so many laws but it set him up for reinvention. His repentance is shooting everyone in his gang and getting on the train. When he leaves the station for Yuma, it is symbolic of him leaving his outlaw way of life behind.
ReplyDeleteBen Wade was a man who knew that his actions were wrong and he didn't care. Although he killed people he never killed anybody that he thought didn't deserve it. For example, when Dan and his sons stumbled on Wade robbing a coach he didn't kill them and even returned their horses to them. This coupled with the fact that Wade knows what he is doing is wrong means that there is some good inside him. The men Wade killed on the journey to the train were all bad men and deserved to die. Wade redeems himself at the end of the movie by helping Dan get him to the train and killing his entire crew.
ReplyDeleteI like Ben Wade. He was real authentic, a real man. He didn't tolerate the BS. Some may say he's evil, but I found it respectable. He didn't say he didn't do anything like a coward , he took responsibility . Dan and his sons were seen as good to Ben Wade, that's why he stared him the whole time. I know it is never OK to act on your portrayal of people because our ethics/morals are not 100% accurate. And to talk about the argument,fighting evil is not fair… but fighting evil with evil is a different story.
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