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Westerns, A Reflecting Landscape Out across the desert they see a man approaching. The sun is bright and makes it hard for them to make out who it is. In the opening scene of The Searchers, the Edwards family is gathered together on the porch as Ethan rides in alone. He has been gone for years. His explanation of where he has been is vague, and he seems as rugged as the terrain he rode in from. At first glance the beautiful vast landscapes of the western may seem like nothing more than a backdrop or location for the action of the film; however, each specific setting serves as a reflection of the feelings or the mood of the characters. In the opening scene, Ethan is getting reacquainted with the family. The ceiling boards in the house are just above Ethan’s head. This makes him appear to be too big for the house, as if he doesn’t belong there with the rest of the family. This gives the audience the impression that he won’t remain there for too long. Not long after Ethan’s arrival some of the neighbor’s cattle are stolen. Ethan rides out with the rangers the next morning to find the stolen cattle. It was a long ride across the vast terrain. When the rangers come upon the dead cattle, they can’t figure out why the I