The character of Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) quotes Bible verses throughout the film. One verse that may shed some light on how the film version of the story ends is Proverbs 13:3...
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
What does this proverb mean in light of the film's ending where Ben Wade is the only member of his gang that survives..leaving Dan Evan's to die by the side of the train tracks after saving his life several times?
Write at least two complete paragraphs as a reaction and take into account the responses of your classmates as you respond.
When Ben Wade qoutes proverbs 13:3' " Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin" it basically means Careful words make a careful life;careless talk may ruin everything. Dan had more than enough time to accept the money he was offered and went home, but he chose to fight alone against Ben Wade's gang. By him acting hastily, it cost him his life.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why Dan chose not to go home an instead take Ben to the train station. He was tired of not standing up to those who treated him wrong. Over the years Dan has been peaceful and tried to wait for God to fix his problems ,but it seem as if God wasnt moving fast enough, the water was shut off, they burned down his ranch and they had very little food. Dan oldest son lost respect for him because he allowed people to do an say what they wanted. So in order for his oldest son to believe in him again he chose to take Ben to the train station whether it cost him his life. It hurted him that his son thought he was worthless. After Dan made it to the train station, Ben realized Dan strength and bravery and gain tremendous respect for him.
I agree with Anatasha I actually liked Ben Wade's character to me he didn't seem cocky. He respected those who respected him. The ending part threw me for a loop though. I wouldn't have guessed he killed his crew just so Dan's son would have respect for him. But him being Ben Wade anyone would be honored to join him.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you both, the ending was shocking. I was not expecting him to kill his crew and right hand man. However Ben was a good guy deep inside he really did want Dan Evan's to remain a hero for his son and family. This was a great movie with a great message.
DeleteThe proverb "Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin meant that death and life are in the power of your tongue.When Ben Wade quote those words he was referring has how one could preserves their life ,if they were wise enough to receive instruction.
ReplyDeleteBen wade was the only member of his gang that survives leaving Dan Evan's to die by the side of the train. Ben wade survives because he was a wise man. He didn't act on his judgement nor make irrational decisions. He was a wise person who heeds to instruction.
Although, he was a leader of his gang; he did not boast or speak about himself has a bad man or give any indication of his works. He was wise enough to control his tongue.He understood what that the proverbs meant because he knew that opening his mouth could have got him killed. And that's what kept him alive everytime he was release from prison.He humble himself.
Dan Evan's choose to die because of his own disobedience.Ben Wade give him a chance to preserve his life, but he did not choose that way because he wanted to fulfilled his own purpose. He made an irrational decision so there was a consequence to it.If he had take heed to Ben Wade instruction, He would have problably be alive. The decison he made was either death or life.
I'm totally agree with you. Ben Wade survive because he was a wise man, rational and analytic person. because of his rationality he was able to take decisions that help him to preserve his life.
DeleteThe Proverbs 13:3...
ReplyDeleteThose who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Meant that if you stay humble you will live but if you try to be a hero or not be humble then you will die. Mr. Wade tried to explain that to Mr.Evans who wanted so badly to get Wade to that train so he can gain respect from the community and most of all his son. Evans didn't want to listen because he felt that he have been to humble that"s why the people of the town was burning down his barn yard so he had something to prove. Mr. Wade decided to assist Mr.Evans just to prove to him that his quote was true and at the the end Mr. Evans did gain respect but he died
ReplyDeleteProverb 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin means that people who do not speak with disrepect malice life will be spared. Ben Wade was a man of his word and he took the life of people whom he felt disrespected him in some way.
Dan was a respectful man. He was also a man who didn't take up for himself either. He was being disrespected by many people in town when they cut his water off and burnt down his barn. His son lost a lot of respect for him when he seen how he reacted to the situations. Ben liked Dan because of his courage.
Dan knew the offer Ben made him would of changed his life, but he wanted respect more than money. Once he receives the respect he knew the money would come but he wanted to show his son that he had heart.
I think that Ben Wade helped Dan Evan take him to the train station so his son could respect his father. Ben Wade knew that the only reason Dan agreed to help the sheriff was for his son's respect.
I think that the bible verse means that if you keep your mouth quite or stay out of trouble you will live and not die in life. In the film Dan Evans ran his mouth by advising that Ben Wade and his crew did the robbery and also we wanted to take Mr. Wade to Yuma to earn money for his family. His intensions were good however he did not just mind his business and I think this is why he died in the end. I think if he just kept to himself he might have lived in the end because even Ben Wade wanted him to live. Ben Wade went as far as advising he will match or give Dan Evans more money if he just let him go. As we see by the ending Evans did not want his money but wanted to take him to Yuma so he can be a hero for his son, as I stated all good intensions but he was not minding his own business.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Dan was a nice guy in the movie. He deals with a lot of people and family going against him in the movie. Them burning his barn down, his own son telling him that he will never be like him and Ben telling him that he will never get him to the train or even make it out of the situation alive. The proverb to me means that people that just act out or talk out of content when things are just not going there way. He never once got upset or said something back to Ben or anyone that did things that some people would have just said things back that they would maybe regret. It might have been wish to just back down and let the gang get him. Even when the odds were against him. He kept pushing on. Ben soon realizes that's the type of man Dan is. Maybe he was that way before he went outlaw. They both have shared stories that hit close to there hearts. I feel they have become friends to some extent. Ben also respects Dan for what he is doing for his family by any means necessary. So by him killing his own gang and then getting on the train like Dan promised his family. It feels like it was Ben's duty to Dan to live up to what he promised to do..
ReplyDeleteDan Evan was a good men but he wanted that he son felt proud of him, be a hero before his eyes. Dan could accept the money that Ben offered to him. Ben is a rude man, he do not talk too much. He was more an analytics person. The man that work for him, he had a big mouth and i think this proverb apply to him. the proverb “those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly come to ruin” this means that those who talk without know the consequences of their words come to ruin. That’s why Ben Wade was the only member of his gang that survives because He was the only rational person in all this he calculated and analyses all his movement, even in the end he took the train to honored the sacrificed of Dan Evan but he already was planning to scape.Dan Evan achieved what he wanted but it was worth? I think not because he ended dead. this wasn't worth it for him, no for his son, and no for his family
ReplyDeleteThe Bible verse refers to how a person acts will ultimately result in the appropriate fate and consequence for them. By staying quiet and peaceful, you will not be at risk of losing your life. For those that have a tendency of speaking openly without any regards for silence or even without thinking prior to speaking, they will end up encountering issues and possibly be more at risk of losing their life because of this approach.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the way Ben carried and conducted himself, that is probably why he ended up surviving. He seemed to be a logical person and was cautious about what he did and along with the way he would go about doing things. He acted very cool, calm, and collected as a gang leader. The stigma that is associated with being a gang leader is the complete opposite. I really think that Dan meant well and had good intentions. Despite having so many personal problems that are far from simple to deal with, he did the best that he could to hold it together and be a good father for his son to look up to.
For God sakes it means shut your mouth
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