Summary

In this essay, Solnit analyses Giant, a famous 1956 film set in Texas directed by George Stevens, and writes about her experiences watching it over the decades. In the beginning of the movie, beautiful Maryland debutante Leslie Lynnton (played by Elizabeth Taylor) charms West Texas Rancher Jorden Benedict II (played by Rock Hudson). At one point she reads a history of Texas and exclaims to Benedict, “We really stole Texas! I mean away from Mexico.” Solnit writes that indeed, if the United States had not stolen Texas and other territories from Mexico in the Mexican-American War, one could imagine Americans going over the border to Mexico for work. This facet of the story was especially important to Solnit the time she watched it in 1996 when there were many tensions over immigrants in California.

By Solnit’s reading, the big black stallion that Lynnton rides represents...