True Grit may have a female narrator, but Mattie doesn't seem to find women very interesting, have any female role models, or be very interested in following a typical female path. (The novel gets a big fat "F" on the Bechdel test.) In fact, the whole novel is about men. Even after her quest is over, she remains a tough, single businesswoman throughout her life. But Mattie doesn't seem to spend much time moaning about the limited opportunities women faced at the end of the nineteenth century (like the inability to vote). Instead, she's interested in learning about men: she observes them, listens to them, and deals with them. So we have to ask: why did Portis make her a girl, anyway?
Questions About Gender
- What is Mattie's idea of a real man? Does she seem to have any ideas about what counts as a "real" woman?
- When LaBoeuf is trying to have a conversation with Rooster about why Rooster doesn't respect him, Rooster says, "I don't like that kind of talk. It is like women talking" (6.347). What does he mean by this? How do men talk?
- Rooster makes lots of negative comments about women. Why do you think he has such a negative attitude?
- How does Mattie feel about Rooster's comments about women? Does she seem to identify with women as a group?
- Do Rooster, LaBoeuf, and Frank Ross present different models of masculinity? What are some of the similarities and differences between them?