Tombstone · Questions
Questions
Evidence-linked answers for Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Law and Lawlessness?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Law and Lawlessness across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The book explores the constant tension between order and chaos in Tombstone, depicting the struggle of lawmen like Wyatt Earp and John Slaughter against outlaws, cattle rustlers, and stage robbers, while also showing how justice was often rough, extralegal, and shaped by personal vendettas. The chapter highlights the tension between law enforcement and outlaw elements in Tombstone. The coexistence of churches and saloons, courts and stage robberies, and the murder of McIntyre over a shirt, all illustrating the tension between order and chaos. The tension between legal authority (Sheriff Behan) and extra-legal power (the Earps) is central, with Behan's political maneuvering versus Earp's direct action.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Frontier Mythology and Legend?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Frontier Mythology and Legend across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The narrative emphasizes how Tombstone's history has been transformed into myth, with figures like the Earps, Clantons, and John Ringo becoming larger-than-life characters, and the book itself draws on newspapers, testimonies, and oral traditions to both document and romanticize the past. The boy's ghostly vigil and the legend of the 'Old Man with a Beard' contribute to the mythic quality of border vengeance and outlaw lore. Ringo is mythologized as a tragic, Hamlet-like figure, embodying the romanticized outlaw of the Old West. The Davis Mountain treasure story is a classic frontier legend, blending outlaw exploits, hidden riches, and a mysterious map, akin to the Cocos Island myth.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Violence and Death?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Violence and Death across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Violence is a constant presence, from Apache raids and the Earp-Clanton feud to lynchings and assassinations, with death often portrayed as sudden, brutal, and a routine part of frontier life, as seen in the OK Corral shootout and the lynching of John Heath. The chapter opens with vivid descriptions of Apache ambushes, murders, and massacres, setting a tone of constant danger. Violence is a constant undercurrent, from Doc Holliday's deadly skills to the feud with Behan, and the threat of lynching and stage robberies. The chapter opens with a cold-blooded murder and escalates to the brink of a massacre, with Earp threatening deadly force to prevent a lynching.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Boom and Bust?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Boom and Bust across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The rise and fall of Tombstone as a silver-mining boomtown is a central theme, detailing how the town grew rapidly to 15,000 people, then collapsed when mines flooded, leaving it a ghost town, symbolizing the fragility of frontier prosperity. Tombstone's rapid rise as a silver mining camp exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of frontier towns. The discovery of silver transforms barren hills into a booming mining camp, but Schieffelin ultimately finds wealth hollow and returns to the wilderness. Tombstone's rapid growth from a cluster of tents to a bustling city, and the eventual decline hinted at by Julius Caesar's fall from restaurateur to lunch counter operator.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Character and Reputation?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Character and Reputation across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The book examines how individuals like Wyatt Earp, John Ringo, and Russian Bill are defined by their reputations for courage, honor, or outlawry, often performing roles (e.g., the gentleman outlaw, the fearless lawman) that blur the line between authentic identity and self-dramatization. The author uses trial testimony from both Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton to present both sides of the Earp-Clanton feud, underscoring how character and reputation were contested in the public record. The story of Bradshaw's shirt murder and the newspaper editors' duel highlight how personal pride and public image drove conflicts. The chapter contrasts the personal qualities of Wyatt Earp (cold, calm, genuine) and Doc Holliday (deadly, loyal, cynical), and explores how their reputations shape their roles in Tombstone.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of Community and Memory?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops Community and Memory across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. Tombstone's legacy is preserved through the memories of pioneers, newspaper archives, and ongoing feuds passed down through generations, showing how the town's history remains alive in the present, with old hatreds and stories shaping modern identity. The chapter emphasizes how the history of Tombstone is preserved through newspapers, personal manuscripts, and the recollections of pioneers, highlighting the role of community memory in shaping the historical record. Anecdotes about Dutch Annie's funeral, Nellie Cashman's charity, and the newspaper rivalry show how Tombstone's residents shaped and remembered their shared history. Tombstone's initial doubt of Breakenridge contrasts with his eventual hero status, shaping local legend.
How does Tombstone develop the theme of The Wilderness and Civilization?
Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns develops The Wilderness and Civilization across the chapters the companion marks for this theme. The book contrasts the harsh, untamed desert landscape—home to Apaches and outlaws—with the emerging civilization of Tombstone, which brought schools, churches, and refined entertainments, highlighting the precarious coexistence of savagery and order on the frontier. Schieffelin's journey from wilderness scout to wealthy city dweller and back to the wilderness highlights the tension between civilized comforts and the call of the wild. Patchy's life embodies the clash between Apache wildness and the civilizing efforts of the Slaughter family, culminating in the unresolved question of heredity versus environment.
