William Munny

Teaming up with Ned does bring back some good memories for Munny, but it also brings back his old behaviors. Munny may feel that Ned could be of some support, but it just allows him to progress further to his old self because he has a greater opportunity to kill, created by their teamwork, with the utmost dominance.
             On the way to Big Whiskey, Munny and Ned meet up with the Schofield Kid, and a storm pierces the horizon. The violent storm foreshadows the tragedies that lay ahead for them. Since whiskey is the fire that sparks Munny's old self, it is ironic that they are on the way to the town of Big Whiskey. Whenever Ned offers Munny some whiskey, he says, "I don't touch it no more. I ain't no crazy killer." Munny realizes that whiskey was his enemy and does not want to be his old self for the sake of his well being. He does not want to go on a rampage of killing people. It could bring him more pain, and he would have to start his new identity all over again. However, Ned wonders if it will be "easy to kill them cowboys." Munny does not reply in a serious tone. He jokingly replies, "If we don't drown first." He tries to hide his worries that he might become violent again. .
             In the town of Big Whiskey, Munny's first encounter with Little Bill, the town's sheriff, is violent. Little Bill asks for Munny's pistol, and Munny replies, "I ain't drunk." Since he is not drunk, Munny feels he won't use the gun like he did in the past. Little Bill beats down on .
             Munny, and while this is happening, Munny tries to grab a bottle of whiskey. Many could argue that Munny was going to use it as self-defense, but really it was a symbol of his progression towards what is contained in the bottle, his old self. The bottle is the first thing Munny reaches for. Now Munny is bruised and drags himself to the street lying in the mud. He now is feeling what his old victims went through. On the outskirts of Big Whiskey, Munny has a nightmare that foreshadows his change to come.