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Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Power of Purpose and Conviction

Paul Scallen’s ability to maintain his focus and shepherd his charge to the train station is the result of his clear sense of purpose and unwavering conviction. Scallen must deal with a variety of frustrations and complications in order to complete his task. He must navigate a reluctant and unreliable ally in Mr. Timpey, fend off the efforts of the vigilante Bob Moons, and avoid an ambush from Kidd’s posse. In addition to these obstacles, Scallen must also resist the temptation to take the easy way out, by accepting Kidd’s bribe, by allowing Moons to kill Kidd, or by simply killing Kidd himself. Scallen is able to do all of this, keep his focus and not deviate from his plan, because he has a clear purpose: to provide for his family and stay alive so that he can see them again. 

Several times in the story, Scallen thinks of his family. When Kidd wonders aloud why Scallen is so careful and doesn’t take any risks, Scallen answers that it’s because of his family, waiting for him in Bisbee. In the moment that Scallen first realizes the level of danger he is in from Kidd’s posse, his mind goes to his family. Kidd picks up on this and uses Scallen’s family as a way to try and convince Scallen to take the easy way out. These examples illustrate that at the core of Scallen’s herculean effort is love for his family and an unshakable sense of purpose. The strength of his conviction to stay alive and do his job stems from a desire to provide for them. The level of focus this brings to his work is evident during the climactic gun fight on the train platform. Scallen’s thoughts are intensely focused and urgent, and show a superhuman level of determination and bravery. His victory in this conflict highlights the power of purpose.

The Dangers of Vigilante Justice 

Bob Moons’ quest for vengeance highlights the manifold dangers of vigilante justice. If Paul Scallen represents the rule of law in a stable society, Bob Moons represents the opposite. Scallen’s application of the law requires a detached, just-the-facts approach to his work. For a society to function under the law, it is absolutely necessary that the law be impartial, and that the execution of the law be unemotional and process-oriented. This helps to ensure that the people accept the determination of the justice system and submit to the process.

Scallen understands this and acts accordingly. Moons, however, is all emotion and rage. He is devastated by the murder of his brother and has taken it upon himself to dole out justice in the way he sees fit. But if Moons were to get his way, justice would not be served. For one, it is very likely that Kidd was not the one who actually killed Dick Moons, and therefore the wrong man would be dead. Moons’ quest also threatens more tragedy. If he succeeds, he would be arrested and likely hung for murder. If Moons were to begin firing, Scallen, Timpey and perhaps other bystanders’ lives would be in danger. Perhaps more importantly, Moons’ actions would undermine trust in the law, which would in turn make the world a more dangerous place. Moons’ actions suggest that not only does vigilantism threaten the lives of innocents, but it also threatens the stability of the justice system and society itself.  

The Fine Line Between Right and Wrong 

“Three-Ten to Yuma” exposes the difficulty and uncertainty in determining right from wrong and shows that in some ways, this is a matter of perspective. None of the characters in the story are clear-cut heroes or villains, and each is confident that what they are doing is “right.” The primary conflict between Scallen and Kidd and his men highlights this. In enticing Scallen to take the easy way out and release him, Kidd offers his own version of what is right. According to this perspective, Scallen releasing Kidd is the right thing to do because it avoids the violence of armed conflict. Scallen lives, Kidd lives, the members of the posse live, no bystanders will be hurt, and Scallen’s family will not lose their husband and father. In Kidd’s eyes, this arrangement means everybody wins. But Scallen sees a much bigger picture. For one, if Scallen fails to do his duty, he could lose his job and his reputation. This would mean diminishing long-term prospects for him and could create more misery for his family. In addition, Scallen understands the importance of the rule of law, and the instability that would be caused by releasing Kidd clearly makes it the wrong thing to do. 

The same dynamic is at play with Bob Moons. Moons believes he has the moral authority to kill Kidd, and there are many that would be sympathetic to this view. In fact, Moons, in doing what he personally thinks is right, would perpetrate a grievous wrong. Similarly, Timpey’s decision to appease Moons is rooted in a desire to be compassionate and kind, both things Timpey believes to be moral goods. But Timpey doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions, which places everyone at the Republic Hotel in danger. Scallen’s level head and strong conviction both ensure that his more considered perspective of right and wrong prevails, but the events of the story show that the line between right and wrong is sometimes a fine one.

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