Family and Integration in The Searchers

What struck me in The Searchers, beside the bombardment of blatant racism, dated acting (by which I mean the humor in calling John Wayne the most subtle actor in this film), and awkwardly written scenes, was the theme of integration in regards to Martin and Debbie through the eyes of Ethan.

Ethan can be seen as a begrudging father figure to Martin, a man of mixed heritage. Martin is Ethan’s only family for most of the film, and yet Ethan cannot easily accept Martin as such. Were Martin entirely white, this familial dynamic would be entirely unstrained. However, Ethan is opposed to anything not white (perhaps reminiscent of his Confederate alliance), and he only tolerates Martin because all but his Indian blood is erased from him—lucky for Martin, who in turn is the butt of all jokes, instead of murdered on the spot. Only over the long search for Debbie do the pair develop a, albeit awkward, father-son relationship.

Similarly, Debbie’s life depends entirely on her ability to integrate as well. The Comanche tribe allows her to live due to her young age at the time of her abduction, whereas her sister was too old and thus too white to be dissolved into the tribe. They see her as, not the evil of white culture, but as something innocent to be taught the correct way.  Ethan in turn doesn’t kill her solely because he believes she can be re-integrated back into white society, again as the innocent child, merely confused by her abductors, and can be fixed to be right once more.

When it comes to the family dynamic, Ethan will always love Debbie--easily. She is his biological family, Indian only by upbringing, which can be expelled from her over time back home. Martin’s blood cannot be fixed, regardless of the fact he is perfectly, culturally white. Ethan’s idea of family ends in blood, despite the development of his relationship with Martin, in particular writing Martin into his will. Martin and Debbie, however, display some sort of hope. They love each other unconditionally, given they are both familiar with the integration process, and would clearly do anything for each other, regardless of whether they are white, Indian, or anything different; they are family.