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Although Joseph is not quite sure with what Shannon said about the free land in America, at last he decides to do adventures in coming to America to acclaim
land. And of course, it becomes Joseph’s main desire. He always imagines how proud he is if that dream really comes true.
Joseph : “Imagine me...
Joseph Donelly, standing on my own plot of land. What would I plant, I wonder?
Oats, corn, potatoes- Oh, God, no, not potatoes.
Maybe wheat. Wheat.
Oh, Shannon... Im dreaming of it now. Great fields of wheat as far as the eye can see.”
4.3 Oklahoma Land Race in Far and Away
The main character, Joseph Donelly has changed his aim after knowing about the land race that was held in Oklahoma. He thinks that if he got land in that
competition, he will not be underestimated anymore. Besides that, it means that he reached his father’s dream who said that the land is a man’s soul.
The Oklahoma land race is the competition to some of the free land being given away in the Oklahoma Territory. The contestants carried all kinds of
transportation - horses, wagons, trains, bicycles or on foot. It is for about 100,000 of people who raced to claim plots of land in an area of land in northern
Oklahoma Territory. There had been a number of previous land races in the Territory, but this was the biggest.
In his village, Joseph is a poor and uneducated Irish man. Everyday, he works in his rented land and cut off chickens sometimes. It is not surprising if he
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does not know about the Oklahoma land race that gives people land for free. When he heard the information about the land race from Shannon, he is so
enthusias and decided to join in that event. Shannon know that Joseph will not refuse that opportunity because she also have the same motivation to claim land as
her own. In addition, the race that will be joined by Joseph is the biggest land race.
Table 4.3.a. Waggoners rush from the start line Time Picture About
1:57:38
2:01:14 Picture i
With the train in the
background, waggoners
rush from the start
line.
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Picture j
In that race, each man is allowed to get land which he wants by driving a flag through the ground. To join in that race, Joseph has to have a horse to do that
race. Therefore when he arrives in Boston, he looks for a job. For the first time he got a job in a chicken processing plant. Because of his low salary, then he joins in
a barehanded boxing match. Winning the match provides Joseph with newfound wealth and becomes somewhat of a local celebrity. It makes Joseph get much
money to buy anything that he need to join in the land race.
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Table 4.3.b. Boxing match Time Picture
About 1:05:49
1:06:33 Picture k
Picture l Joseph joins
in a barehanded
boxing match.
As joseph join in the boxing match, he learn much more about the way to survive and become real man. Through his winning, he get respect from his opponents and
the audience. It is prove that life is so hard to be facing, but Joseph do not surrender to reach his dreams and become real man.
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Even though temporarily, Joseph seems to forget about his goals of obtaining land and spends his money on suits and hats, Joseph is confronted by his
father in a dream, and is reminded of his desire to own land. Joseph decides to join the wagon trains and arrives in Oklahoma Territory just in time for the Land
Run of 1893, which will enable him to finally reach his goal. At the end of the movie he drives his flag into the ground and claim his prized land.
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CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion
