Why does Cogburn kill the horse?
In the movie True Grit (2010), second to last scene, where Cogburn rides with poisoned Mattie.
In the desperate attempt to save Mattie from the snake venom, Cogburn rides her (of Mattie) horse day-and-night to quickly reach a doctor. As I and everyone can imagine, the horse gets very tired in this race against the time.
Question is: why does Cogburn decide to kill the horse instead of simply leaving it in the wild?
plot-explanation true-grit
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
add a comment |
In the movie True Grit (2010), second to last scene, where Cogburn rides with poisoned Mattie.
In the desperate attempt to save Mattie from the snake venom, Cogburn rides her (of Mattie) horse day-and-night to quickly reach a doctor. As I and everyone can imagine, the horse gets very tired in this race against the time.
Question is: why does Cogburn decide to kill the horse instead of simply leaving it in the wild?
plot-explanation true-grit
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
1
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
1
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36
add a comment |
In the movie True Grit (2010), second to last scene, where Cogburn rides with poisoned Mattie.
In the desperate attempt to save Mattie from the snake venom, Cogburn rides her (of Mattie) horse day-and-night to quickly reach a doctor. As I and everyone can imagine, the horse gets very tired in this race against the time.
Question is: why does Cogburn decide to kill the horse instead of simply leaving it in the wild?
plot-explanation true-grit
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
In the movie True Grit (2010), second to last scene, where Cogburn rides with poisoned Mattie.
In the desperate attempt to save Mattie from the snake venom, Cogburn rides her (of Mattie) horse day-and-night to quickly reach a doctor. As I and everyone can imagine, the horse gets very tired in this race against the time.
Question is: why does Cogburn decide to kill the horse instead of simply leaving it in the wild?
plot-explanation true-grit
plot-explanation true-grit
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
edited Dec 18 '18 at 0:41
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.2k42272522
42.2k42272522
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
asked Dec 17 '18 at 18:03
mattia.b89mattia.b89
17916
17916
1
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
1
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36
add a comment |
1
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
1
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36
1
1
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
1
1
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The following is from the script at this link.
It would seem that they had ridden Little Blackie beyond a point of restoration, even choosing to cut the horse with a knife to drive it on. Given the foaming, and the unsettling noises coming from within the horse, Rooster chose to end the horse's misery. The horse was nowhere near a place it could heal. In Rooster's mind, he most likely thought it wouldn't even if they were close.
THE MEADOW
Mattie is woozy. As Little Blackie crosses the field at
full gallop Mattie looks blearily at the littering bodies of horses
and men. Next to Lucky Ned’s body his horse, saddled and riderless,
swings its head to watch as Rooster and Mattie pass. Mattie’s eyes are
closing.
LATE DAY
Mattie’s eyes half-open. Little Blackie plunges on,
through a rough road in woods, but slower now, his mouth foaming.
Rooster "Come on, you!" Mattie "We must stop." Little Blackie is played
out. Horrible noises are indeed coming from the horse, but Rooster is
grim: Rooster "We have miles yet." He leaves off whipping the horse and
takes out his knife. He leans back and slashes at the horse’s
whithers. Little Blackie surges. Mattie screams. Mattie "No!" A
locked-down shot as horse and riders enter at a gallop and recede.
NIGHT 113
It has started to snow. Mattie is flushed and soaked with
sweat. The horse is laboring for breath. Rooster gives inarticulate
curses as he kicks it on. Mattie looks ahead: Barely visible in the
moonlight a man mounted bareback rides on ahead. A sash cord holds a
rifle to his back. He recedes, outpacing us, disappearing into the
darkness and the falling snow. Mattie "He is getting away." Rooster "Who
is getting away?" Mattie "Chaney." Rooster "Hold on, sis." Mattie is
falling. It is unclear why. Her legs squeeze the horses flanks. Her
hand tightens on the horses mane. Rooster’s arm reaches around to hold
her. Little Blackie is giving out, going to his knees and then all the
way down. Rooster hangs on to Mattie as the horse sinks. He pulls her
clear, lays her on the ground, and then steps away from her, taking
out a gun. The horrible noises coming from the horse end with a
gunshot. Rooster reenters to pick up Mattie but she screams at him and
claws at his face, opening fresh gashes. He ducks his head as best he
can to avoid the claws but that is the extent of his reaction.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
add a comment |
Ironically, it is an act of mercy. Cogburn knows that the horse is doomed to die. The horse will either starve to death, or get torn apart by predators and eaten. Cogburn shoots the horse to put it out of its misery, and save it from going through the torture of a slow, horrible death.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The following is from the script at this link.
It would seem that they had ridden Little Blackie beyond a point of restoration, even choosing to cut the horse with a knife to drive it on. Given the foaming, and the unsettling noises coming from within the horse, Rooster chose to end the horse's misery. The horse was nowhere near a place it could heal. In Rooster's mind, he most likely thought it wouldn't even if they were close.
THE MEADOW
Mattie is woozy. As Little Blackie crosses the field at
full gallop Mattie looks blearily at the littering bodies of horses
and men. Next to Lucky Ned’s body his horse, saddled and riderless,
swings its head to watch as Rooster and Mattie pass. Mattie’s eyes are
closing.
LATE DAY
Mattie’s eyes half-open. Little Blackie plunges on,
through a rough road in woods, but slower now, his mouth foaming.
Rooster "Come on, you!" Mattie "We must stop." Little Blackie is played
out. Horrible noises are indeed coming from the horse, but Rooster is
grim: Rooster "We have miles yet." He leaves off whipping the horse and
takes out his knife. He leans back and slashes at the horse’s
whithers. Little Blackie surges. Mattie screams. Mattie "No!" A
locked-down shot as horse and riders enter at a gallop and recede.
NIGHT 113
It has started to snow. Mattie is flushed and soaked with
sweat. The horse is laboring for breath. Rooster gives inarticulate
curses as he kicks it on. Mattie looks ahead: Barely visible in the
moonlight a man mounted bareback rides on ahead. A sash cord holds a
rifle to his back. He recedes, outpacing us, disappearing into the
darkness and the falling snow. Mattie "He is getting away." Rooster "Who
is getting away?" Mattie "Chaney." Rooster "Hold on, sis." Mattie is
falling. It is unclear why. Her legs squeeze the horses flanks. Her
hand tightens on the horses mane. Rooster’s arm reaches around to hold
her. Little Blackie is giving out, going to his knees and then all the
way down. Rooster hangs on to Mattie as the horse sinks. He pulls her
clear, lays her on the ground, and then steps away from her, taking
out a gun. The horrible noises coming from the horse end with a
gunshot. Rooster reenters to pick up Mattie but she screams at him and
claws at his face, opening fresh gashes. He ducks his head as best he
can to avoid the claws but that is the extent of his reaction.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
add a comment |
The following is from the script at this link.
It would seem that they had ridden Little Blackie beyond a point of restoration, even choosing to cut the horse with a knife to drive it on. Given the foaming, and the unsettling noises coming from within the horse, Rooster chose to end the horse's misery. The horse was nowhere near a place it could heal. In Rooster's mind, he most likely thought it wouldn't even if they were close.
THE MEADOW
Mattie is woozy. As Little Blackie crosses the field at
full gallop Mattie looks blearily at the littering bodies of horses
and men. Next to Lucky Ned’s body his horse, saddled and riderless,
swings its head to watch as Rooster and Mattie pass. Mattie’s eyes are
closing.
LATE DAY
Mattie’s eyes half-open. Little Blackie plunges on,
through a rough road in woods, but slower now, his mouth foaming.
Rooster "Come on, you!" Mattie "We must stop." Little Blackie is played
out. Horrible noises are indeed coming from the horse, but Rooster is
grim: Rooster "We have miles yet." He leaves off whipping the horse and
takes out his knife. He leans back and slashes at the horse’s
whithers. Little Blackie surges. Mattie screams. Mattie "No!" A
locked-down shot as horse and riders enter at a gallop and recede.
NIGHT 113
It has started to snow. Mattie is flushed and soaked with
sweat. The horse is laboring for breath. Rooster gives inarticulate
curses as he kicks it on. Mattie looks ahead: Barely visible in the
moonlight a man mounted bareback rides on ahead. A sash cord holds a
rifle to his back. He recedes, outpacing us, disappearing into the
darkness and the falling snow. Mattie "He is getting away." Rooster "Who
is getting away?" Mattie "Chaney." Rooster "Hold on, sis." Mattie is
falling. It is unclear why. Her legs squeeze the horses flanks. Her
hand tightens on the horses mane. Rooster’s arm reaches around to hold
her. Little Blackie is giving out, going to his knees and then all the
way down. Rooster hangs on to Mattie as the horse sinks. He pulls her
clear, lays her on the ground, and then steps away from her, taking
out a gun. The horrible noises coming from the horse end with a
gunshot. Rooster reenters to pick up Mattie but she screams at him and
claws at his face, opening fresh gashes. He ducks his head as best he
can to avoid the claws but that is the extent of his reaction.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
add a comment |
The following is from the script at this link.
It would seem that they had ridden Little Blackie beyond a point of restoration, even choosing to cut the horse with a knife to drive it on. Given the foaming, and the unsettling noises coming from within the horse, Rooster chose to end the horse's misery. The horse was nowhere near a place it could heal. In Rooster's mind, he most likely thought it wouldn't even if they were close.
THE MEADOW
Mattie is woozy. As Little Blackie crosses the field at
full gallop Mattie looks blearily at the littering bodies of horses
and men. Next to Lucky Ned’s body his horse, saddled and riderless,
swings its head to watch as Rooster and Mattie pass. Mattie’s eyes are
closing.
LATE DAY
Mattie’s eyes half-open. Little Blackie plunges on,
through a rough road in woods, but slower now, his mouth foaming.
Rooster "Come on, you!" Mattie "We must stop." Little Blackie is played
out. Horrible noises are indeed coming from the horse, but Rooster is
grim: Rooster "We have miles yet." He leaves off whipping the horse and
takes out his knife. He leans back and slashes at the horse’s
whithers. Little Blackie surges. Mattie screams. Mattie "No!" A
locked-down shot as horse and riders enter at a gallop and recede.
NIGHT 113
It has started to snow. Mattie is flushed and soaked with
sweat. The horse is laboring for breath. Rooster gives inarticulate
curses as he kicks it on. Mattie looks ahead: Barely visible in the
moonlight a man mounted bareback rides on ahead. A sash cord holds a
rifle to his back. He recedes, outpacing us, disappearing into the
darkness and the falling snow. Mattie "He is getting away." Rooster "Who
is getting away?" Mattie "Chaney." Rooster "Hold on, sis." Mattie is
falling. It is unclear why. Her legs squeeze the horses flanks. Her
hand tightens on the horses mane. Rooster’s arm reaches around to hold
her. Little Blackie is giving out, going to his knees and then all the
way down. Rooster hangs on to Mattie as the horse sinks. He pulls her
clear, lays her on the ground, and then steps away from her, taking
out a gun. The horrible noises coming from the horse end with a
gunshot. Rooster reenters to pick up Mattie but she screams at him and
claws at his face, opening fresh gashes. He ducks his head as best he
can to avoid the claws but that is the extent of his reaction.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
The following is from the script at this link.
It would seem that they had ridden Little Blackie beyond a point of restoration, even choosing to cut the horse with a knife to drive it on. Given the foaming, and the unsettling noises coming from within the horse, Rooster chose to end the horse's misery. The horse was nowhere near a place it could heal. In Rooster's mind, he most likely thought it wouldn't even if they were close.
THE MEADOW
Mattie is woozy. As Little Blackie crosses the field at
full gallop Mattie looks blearily at the littering bodies of horses
and men. Next to Lucky Ned’s body his horse, saddled and riderless,
swings its head to watch as Rooster and Mattie pass. Mattie’s eyes are
closing.
LATE DAY
Mattie’s eyes half-open. Little Blackie plunges on,
through a rough road in woods, but slower now, his mouth foaming.
Rooster "Come on, you!" Mattie "We must stop." Little Blackie is played
out. Horrible noises are indeed coming from the horse, but Rooster is
grim: Rooster "We have miles yet." He leaves off whipping the horse and
takes out his knife. He leans back and slashes at the horse’s
whithers. Little Blackie surges. Mattie screams. Mattie "No!" A
locked-down shot as horse and riders enter at a gallop and recede.
NIGHT 113
It has started to snow. Mattie is flushed and soaked with
sweat. The horse is laboring for breath. Rooster gives inarticulate
curses as he kicks it on. Mattie looks ahead: Barely visible in the
moonlight a man mounted bareback rides on ahead. A sash cord holds a
rifle to his back. He recedes, outpacing us, disappearing into the
darkness and the falling snow. Mattie "He is getting away." Rooster "Who
is getting away?" Mattie "Chaney." Rooster "Hold on, sis." Mattie is
falling. It is unclear why. Her legs squeeze the horses flanks. Her
hand tightens on the horses mane. Rooster’s arm reaches around to hold
her. Little Blackie is giving out, going to his knees and then all the
way down. Rooster hangs on to Mattie as the horse sinks. He pulls her
clear, lays her on the ground, and then steps away from her, taking
out a gun. The horrible noises coming from the horse end with a
gunshot. Rooster reenters to pick up Mattie but she screams at him and
claws at his face, opening fresh gashes. He ducks his head as best he
can to avoid the claws but that is the extent of his reaction.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:36
Jason P SallingerJason P Sallinger
9712719
9712719
add a comment |
add a comment |
Ironically, it is an act of mercy. Cogburn knows that the horse is doomed to die. The horse will either starve to death, or get torn apart by predators and eaten. Cogburn shoots the horse to put it out of its misery, and save it from going through the torture of a slow, horrible death.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
add a comment |
Ironically, it is an act of mercy. Cogburn knows that the horse is doomed to die. The horse will either starve to death, or get torn apart by predators and eaten. Cogburn shoots the horse to put it out of its misery, and save it from going through the torture of a slow, horrible death.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
add a comment |
Ironically, it is an act of mercy. Cogburn knows that the horse is doomed to die. The horse will either starve to death, or get torn apart by predators and eaten. Cogburn shoots the horse to put it out of its misery, and save it from going through the torture of a slow, horrible death.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
Ironically, it is an act of mercy. Cogburn knows that the horse is doomed to die. The horse will either starve to death, or get torn apart by predators and eaten. Cogburn shoots the horse to put it out of its misery, and save it from going through the torture of a slow, horrible death.
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
answered Dec 17 '18 at 18:22
BrettFromLABrettFromLA
15.9k854108
15.9k854108
add a comment |
add a comment |
1
It was a bit of a meme in old cowboy movies, so if you're talking about the original, it's a meme, the remake, they're following the plot of the original.
– Tetsujin
Dec 17 '18 at 18:43
Which True Grit? (1969) or (2010)?
– Nick T
Dec 18 '18 at 0:00
2010, the latest one
– mattia.b89
Dec 18 '18 at 0:01
1
@Tetsujin I think you'll find that the plot of the 1969 movie follows the plot of the 1968 novel.
– phoog
Dec 18 '18 at 10:36