Good Vs Evil

Good vs. Evil

Cara Masterson

Capella University

Human Lifespan

October 21, 2012

Abstract

For this paper on Good vs. Evil, I chose to write on the movie High Noon. High Noon is a 1952 American Western film told in nearly real time. It’s the story of a town marshal, Will Kane, personally compelled to face a returning deadly enemy, and finds that his own town refuses to help him. Minutes before learning this, Will marries his pacifist Quaker wife and his plans are to turn in his badge for a simpler life as a shopkeeper. But first, he has a five year feud to end.

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is an ethical approach made popular by John Stuart Mill. It goes by the belief of “the greatest good for the greatest number” (Rachels, 2012). Utilitarianism followers believe that “if the good outweighs the bad, then the action is moral” (Anderson, 2004). In High Noon, Will’s new wife, Amy, lives by this. She’s a Quaker and does not believe in violence in any way. At one point in the movie she explains how her brother and father both were killed in a shootout. She states they were on the “right” side, but it didn’t matter. One of my favorite lines and what I believe sums up Amy Kane well is “I don’t care who is right or who is wrong. There’s got to be a better way for people to live” (High Noon, 1952). Amy ends up abandoning her morals to save the life of Will, her husband.

The entire town of Hadleyville seems to follow a utilitarianism theory when it comes to Will’s need to stand up to Frank Miller. Will approaches every man in the town, friends and enemies alike, and asks for help. He makes a plea that a Frank Miller-free world would be better for the whole town. No one seems to agree with Will. Even though multiple townsfolk readily admit that Will was the best marshal they have ever had and he helped make the town safe for women and children, they still refuse to help. They see it in a utilitarian view that it would make pleasure for Will but could cause pain for many more. They see it that Will should have left town when he had the chance and then Frank would just pass through without trouble. I feel this was a very naïve thought, but because the end result, if they all fought, ultimately could cost more people pain than pleasure, the town chose to let Will Kane face Frank Miller and his gang alone.

Categorical Imperative

Will Kane, as previously stated, is the long time marshal of Hadleyville and he is having an ethical dilemma in High Noon. In his mind, he feels he is making the right decision