“Dear John Wayne”

The title and narrative of "The Searchers," which is the film that John Wayne is starring in when he has his affair with Etta, represents a key circumstance in both characters that leads to that affair. As Etta and the narrative both describe their relationship, there is a sense that Etta and Wayne are both "searching" for something to fill some kind of emptiness in their lives. The concept of people being "searchers" can also be seen as metaphorically connected to circumstances in Etta and the person interviewing her in their present-day experiences. Etta is searching for respect and acknowledgement of her history and identity, while the interviewer, Spencer, is searching for validation for his racist, academically-oriented perspectives.