Point of view

The story is told in the third person, by an omniscient narrator, which allows the author to let the reader into the minds and thoughts of all characters. However, despite this, he does employ the use of seemingly otherwise meaningless characters such as the drummer to evoke discussion of Scratchy Wilson and Jack Potter, which provides for insight into the history and relationships that exist there.

Setting

A fictional town, Yellow Sky is a town associated with the idea of the 'Wild West,' complete with saloon and troublemakers ready for a gunfight. However, in this town, things are changing - the idea of the 'wild' West has calmed down and the only man who will rise to the challenge of a gunfight with the last of an old gang is the town marshal - and only because he feels he is obliged. The township of...