In The Power of the Dog—- a Netflix film directed by Jane Campion and adapted from the Western novel by Thomas Savage—- Phil Burbank (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) is a charismatic but cruel rancher who develops a toxic relationship with his brother George’s (played by Jesse Plemons) new wife, Rose (played by Kirsten Dunst). Phil is a complex character whose motivations and actions are not always clear, but it is suggested that he is driven by a need for control and dominance over those around him.
The scene in which Phil teaches Rose’s impressionable son Peter (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) how to make a rope can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it is a metaphor for Phil’s desire to shape Peter into his own image, to mold him into a tool that he can use for his own purposes. It is also the moment that leads to Phil’s softening towards Peter.
The scene takes place early in the film, and it begins with Phil noticing that Peter is watching him as he expertly makes a rope. Phil invites Peter over and offers to teach him the craft. At first, the scene seems like a straightforward example of a mentor passing on skills to a younger generation, but it quickly becomes apparent that there is more going on beneath the surface.
As Phil teaches Peter how to make a rope, his language is authoritative and domineering. He tells Peter what to do and how to do it, insisting that there is only one way to make a good rope. This dynamic is reflective of Phil’s larger personality, which is characterized by a need for control and an unwillingness to compromise or collaborate.
Furthermore, the act of rope-making itself can be seen as symbolic of the ties that bind people together, both literally and figuratively. By teaching Peter how to make a rope, Phil is initiating him into a tradition that is important to their family and their way of life on the Montana ranch. But this initiation also serves as a way for Phil to assert his dominance over Peter, reminding him of his place in the family hierarchy and reinforcing the idea that he is beholden to Phil’s authority.
At this point in the story, Phil is beginning to feel threatened by Peter’s growing independence and his close relationship with Rose. However, this also serves as a way for Phil to exert his dominance over Peter and to remind him of his place in the family hierarchy.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Phil’s relationship with Peter is driven by a need for power and control. He becomes increasingly manipulative and abusive towards him, using his position as a mentor and father figure to keep him under his thumb. The act of teaching Peter how to make a rope is just one example of how Phil exerts his power over him, but it sets the tone for their relationship and foreshadows the dark and tragic events that follow.
In conclusion, while the scene in which Phil teaches Peter how to make a rope may seem innocuous at first, it is actually a complex and layered moment that reflects the power dynamics and psychological undercurrents of the characters’ relationships and the American West at large. The act of making a rope serves as a metaphor for the ties that bind them together, for better or for worse, and highlights the complex nature of power and control in human relationships. This moment of bonding also catalyzes the events that will lead to Phil’s death, as Peter will push him into infecting an open wound he has on his hand by touching a sick bull calf without gloves on, all to get some rawhide to make more ropes.