When I was developing the concept for Marlene, I knew that my primary objective was to provide commentary on revenge and the cycle of violence. More importantly, I wanted to highlight how easy it is to get lost in that cycle.
Subsequently, Marlene Mace was created to be a character not only lost to violence, but within a landscape that defies typical genre conventions. Marlene is a strong, female protagonist in the American Frontier. This environment has typically been associated with hardened characters portrayed by the likes of Clint Eastwood, Franco Nero and Charles Bronson.
Marlene is broken on the day that her husband and son are murdered. During the time spent as a prisoner and her transition into a bounty hunter, Marlene convinces herself that killing Ellis Waylon, the outlaw that crossed her, is the only hope for salvation.
I continued to introduce and surround Marlene with characters, such as Marshal Eli Clay, to try and convince her that participating in the cycle of violence is not necessarily a means to find peace. Additionally, Clay tries to communicate that Marlene is not alone, and approaching Ellis with the firm hand of the law can appease more than just her.
While Marlene ultimately fails in her quest to kill Ellis, she successfully breaks the cycle of violence and tries her best to find peace at her family farm. While she may never be whole again, she is no longer lost.
