Of the two brothers, George is the introverted one. George has one foot in the world of the cowboy and one foot in the world of the capitalist. By contrast, George has a very different, lighter temperament, and while he participates in some of the ranch duties, such as helping to lead cattle drives, his primary occupation at the ranch is to handle its business operations. While educated and extremely intelligent, Phil’s worldview is formed by his duties at the ranch and not by societal expectation. Manners, etiquette, and other niceties of high society are not for him. Of the two, Phil looks and acts the part of cowboy. Inheritors of a vast estate left them by their still living parents, Phil and George operate one of the larger cattle ranches in the region. Readers are quickly introduced to two of the novel’s primary characters, the brothers Phil and George Burbank. This is a harsh, cruel, and brutal world, and it is not for the faint-of-heart.
The opening paragraph of the novel, a memorable and graphic account of the castration of bull-calves, establishes a tone that will reverberate through its entirety. This guide uses the Kindle edition first published in 2009. The novel was adapted into a film in 2021 directed by Jane Campion who received the Academy Award for Best Director. However, even for the top dog, there is always a stronger, unpredictable force that cannot be dominated-an unfortunate fact for Phil, whose hubris does not allow for humility. Maintaining control of the world he has constructed at the ranch becomes Phil’s urgent, singular focus. When Rose and Peter are brought to the ranch, Phil’s actions become sharply more cruel. The novel explores the many ways Phil achieves dominance and exercises control over those around him. In his quest to subdue those around him, including his brother George, Phil is the top dog on the ranch. Phil is the proudly rugged cowboy George is the modest and introverted businessman.
The novel explores the nature of masculinity, questioning the traits that make up a good man.
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