The Strategic Significance of Shooting the Horse in 'The Revenant': Insights into Early Survival Tactics

"The Revenant," directed by Alejandro González I?árritu and featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, opens with a stark and brutal scene where the main characters, including Fitzgerald, a member of the expedition, shoots a horse for no apparent reason. This act serves multiple purposes, enhancing the film's tone and setting the stage for the moral and physical challenges that lie ahead.

Survival and Resourcefulness

The act of shooting the horse highlights the brutal survival conditions faced by the characters. Trapped in a harsh wilderness, the group must take desperate measures to survive. The horse can no longer be used for travel and killing it provides a source of food. This scene sets the tone for the film, emphasizing the resourcefulness and sometimes ruthless nature of survival in such a hostile environment.

Character Development

Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald's decision establishes him as a ruthless and pragmatic character, in contrast to Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who has a more compassionate approach to life and nature. This contrast sets up ongoing conflicts and dilemmas within the group, highlighting the diverse moral viewpoints they face.

Foreshadowing

This violent act foreshadows the brutal and morally ambiguous situations that the characters will encounter throughout the film. It prepares the audience for the harsh realities of survival in a hostile environment, urging them to question their own moral boundaries and the lengths they would go to survive.

The Strategic Importance of the Horse in the Wilderness

The horses in the expedition were not mere showpieces or recreational mounts. They were work animals, bought specifically for this arduous journey and used as mounts and load animals. The hunters needed to return with only one thing: their furs. Anything left behind was already bought or a means of supply.

Shooting the horse served a strategic purpose beyond mere survival. In the context of Native American raids, these horses represented a significant asset that could be taken as spoils. By destroying the horses, the group effectively denied the attacking warband any reward, as these prized mounts were the primary motivation behind the raid.

The horses were treated with a practical and utilitarian mindset. While it's possible that some pain could have been felt by the man who shot the horse, the harsh realities of survival often dulled such emotions. There was a recognition that the survival of the group outweighed the welfare of individual animals.

The fur trade on the North American frontier between the 17th and 19th centuries was a driving economic force, akin to crude oil in modern times. The investment cost of a few lost horses was a manageable loss if it ensured a safe return with valuable furs. The urgency of the retreat further emphasized the tactical importance of maintaining a fleeing pace, as any delay could result in hunters being easily picked off by the pursuing warband.

In conclusion, the opening scene of The Revenant serves multiple layers of purpose, from highlighting survival tactics to character development and foreshadowing. It underscores the harsh realities of the wilderness and the complex moral choices that the characters must make.