Question

What is the function of having w.w. beauchamp in "unforgiven"? he allows for eastwood to comment on the french he is the only example in the film of someone who does not want to be a gunfighter he helps establish the city vs. country dynamic in the film he represents the "pulp fiction" version of the west and has to be educated about the reality he provides an educated foil for william munny?

Answer 1

He represents the "pulp fiction" version of the west and has to be educated about the reality.

Although he's a complete weasel, Beauchamp can at least be applauded for possessing some small amount of intellectual courage. Once his initial ideas about the Wild West are completely exploded during a conversation with Little Bill, it would have been easy for a lesser man to leave and forget the whole thing.

But Beauchamp at least decides to stick around Big Whiskey, and learn about the reality of the frontier. In a way, then, he does commit himself to trying to get it right, even though he seems to idolize Little Bill a little too much at times.