The Ox-Bow Incident: A Modern Classic of Western Justice

The Ox-Bow Incident (Modern Library Classics)

by Walter Van Tilburg Clark

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1929 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	290 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	82 pages
Item Weight	:	8 ounces
Dimensions	:	0.25 x 6 x 9 inches

FREE

The Ox-Bow Incident is a gripping tale of mob justice and the dangers of acting on prejudice. Set in the untamed American West, the novel follows a group of vigilantes who take matters into their own hands when they suspect a man of murder. But as the evidence mounts, they begin to doubt their own judgment. The Ox-Bow Incident is a timeless classic that explores the themes of justice, prejudice, and the consequences of mob rule.

Plot Summary

The novel opens with a group of cowboys rounding up cattle on a remote ranch in Nevada. When they discover that some of their cattle have been stolen, they set out to track down the thieves. They soon come across a group of men who they believe are responsible for the theft. The men are arrested and taken to a nearby town, where they are accused of murder. The townspeople are outraged and demand that the men be hanged immediately.

A group of vigilantes is formed, led by a man named Gil Carter. Carter is a well-respected member of the community, but he is also a man with a quick temper. He is determined to see the accused men hanged, regardless of the evidence. The vigilantes take the men to a nearby oxbow, where they are hanged without a trial.

In the aftermath of the lynching, the townspeople begin to have second thoughts. They realize that they may have made a mistake. The evidence against the accused men was flimsy, and there is no way to know for sure if they were guilty. The townspeople are haunted by their guilt, and they begin to turn against Carter. Carter is eventually arrested and charged with murder. He is found guilty and sentenced to death.

Themes

The Ox-Bow Incident is a complex novel that explores a number of important themes, including:

• Justice: The novel raises questions about the nature of justice and the role of the individual in upholding it. The vigilantes believe that they are acting in the best interests of the community, but their actions are ultimately unjust. They take the law into their own hands and deny the accused men their right to a fair trial.
• Prejudice: The novel also explores the theme of prejudice. The townspeople are quick to judge the accused men based on their appearance and their status as outsiders. They refuse to believe that they could be innocent, even when the evidence suggests otherwise.
• Mob rule: The novel warns against the dangers of mob rule. When people act in a group, they are often more likely to make rash decisions. The vigilantes in the novel are driven by their anger and their desire for revenge. They do not take the time to consider the consequences of their actions.

Characters

The Ox-Bow Incident features a number of memorable characters, including:

• Gil Carter: Carter is the leader of the vigilantes. He is a well-respected member of the community, but he is also a man with a quick temper. He is determined to see the accused men hanged, regardless of the evidence.
• Art Croft: Croft is a young cowboy who is initially drawn to the excitement of the lynching. However, he soon begins to have second thoughts. He realizes that the accused men may be innocent, and he tries to stop the lynching.
• Ma Geoghegan: Geoghegan is the town's schoolteacher. She is a strong-willed woman who believes in the rule of law. She tries to convince the townspeople to give the accused men a fair trial.

Setting

The Ox-Bow Incident is set in the untamed American West. The novel captures the beauty and the danger of the frontier. The characters are constantly at the mercy of the elements, and they must be prepared to face whatever challenges come their way. The setting of the novel also contributes to the themes of the novel. The vastness of the West can be both exhilarating and terrifying. It is a place where people can reinvent themselves, but it is also a place where danger lurks around every corner.

Legacy

The Ox-Bow Incident was first published in 1940. It was an immediate critical and commercial success. The novel has been praised for its realism, its suspenseful plot, and its timeless themes. The Ox-Bow Incident has been adapted into a number of films, including a 1943 film starring Henry Fonda and a 1985 film starring Tom Selleck. The novel is still widely read today, and it is considered to be one of the great American classics.

The Ox-Bow Incident is a gripping tale of mob justice and the dangers of acting on prejudice. Set in the untamed American West, the novel follows a group of vigilantes who take matters into their own hands when they suspect a man of murder. But as the evidence mounts, they begin to doubt their own judgment. The Ox-Bow Incident is a timeless classic that explores the themes of justice, prejudice, and the consequences of mob rule.

The Ox-Bow Incident (Modern Library Classics)

by Walter Van Tilburg Clark

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1929 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	290 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	82 pages
Item Weight	:	8 ounces
Dimensions	:	0.25 x 6 x 9 inches

FREE