Flyin' West

From the first moment of the play, when Sophie returns from shopping in town, her shotgun is a constant presence. She carries it when she leaves the house, including when she goes to the train station to pick up Minnie and Frank; she cleans and oils it; and she pointedly shifts it in her arms to emphasize to Frank that she’s both armed and wary of him. Sophie’s need for the shotgun highlights the wildness and danger of the frontier, not only from animals but from men. As a woman who is the head of a household of women, Sophie assumes the responsibility of the protector. She must prove to outsiders that she can defend her home and family as well as any man, or the women risk being seen as a target.

Although Sophie doesn’t hesitate to brandish her shotgun, she’s controlled enough to aim but not fire too quickly, as when she hears the deer in the yard and then lowers her weapon. However, while cautious, she isn’t afraid to shoot or kill. At the end of Act I, when Frank threatens Minnie, Sophie points the gun at him, cocking the hammer and nearly pulling the trigger before Minnie stops her.