Who is Sarah in “Yellowstone” and why is she important?
Table of Contents
A loaded question that hangs ominously at the close of Yellowstone's Season 5 mid-season finale is: Who is Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) and what role might she play in Jamie's (Wes Bentley) escalating confrontation with his family, particularly Beth (Kelly Reilly)? As I sit here contemplating this question, my mind naturally gravitates towards a fascinating cross-cultural parallel - the dark web of political intrigue spun in Shakespeare's plays, where power, family loyalty, and the pursuit of personal gain create a compelling and ultimately tragic tapestry.
A New Lady Macbeth on the Horizon?
If Jamie is likened to a certain ambitious Thane of Cawdor, then Sarah could very well be his Lady Macbeth - the driving force behind his actions, prodding him further down a path of moral and familial destruction. But is this comparison apt, or is it an over-simplification?
Like Lady Macbeth, Sarah emerges from the shadows of the domestic sphere, wrapped in a bedsheet, entering a plot soaked in political ambition and potential violence. Their actions might seem impulsive, but their motivations are layered, complex, and perhaps even slightly empathetic. Lady Macbeth wished to unsex herself, to wash away the 'milk of human kindness' that kept her husband from seizing the throne. Does Sarah also wish to abandon something of herself, her own human kindness perhaps, to push Jamie toward his reckoning?
A Heart Attack or a Car Accident?
When Jamie, realizing his sister will likely try to have him killed, asks if Sarah knows of any "group that has experience with this kind of situation," her response raises more than an eyebrow. People who can "make it look like a heart attack or a car accident" - is she talking about hitmen? If so, this is the part where the comparison takes a sinister twist. Unlike Lady Macbeth, Sarah seems to be more comfortable with the prospect of physical violence.
But this isn't a deviation from the trope, but rather an expansion of it. Both women possess an intricate understanding of the mechanisms of power and are unafraid to manipulate them to their advantage. They realize that, in their respective worlds, the road to power is rarely a peaceful one. However, this understanding comes with its share of dangerous implications. The moment violence enters the picture, it becomes a Pandora's Box of consequences that could spiral far beyond their control.
The 'Train Station' Impasse
The most intriguing element that could impact Sarah's trajectory is the knowledge of the "train station," the Dutton family's secret burial ground. Will this factor into their strategy? Will they use this to blackmail the Duttons, or will they go a step further and expose this century-old secret? If they do, they not only endanger the Duttons but also put themselves at risk. After all, Jamie's involvement in the "train station" activities is far from minimal.
It's here that Sarah's role and the Lady Macbeth comparison diverge sharply. Lady Macbeth ultimately succumbs to guilt, her conscience tormenting her to the point of madness and death. But, we are yet to see whether Sarah will share this sense of remorse or guilt. Her character appears more hardened, more pragmatic. Whether this pragmatic facade will crack under the weight of her actions, however, is a question left to be answered in the second half of the season.
So, as we eagerly wait for the next chapter in the Dutton family saga, we must also prepare ourselves to delve deeper into the character of Sarah. She is no mere sidekick in Jamie's plot, but a significant player whose motivations and decisions could very well tip the balance of power in the Yellowstone universe.
Will she descend into guilt-ridden madness like Lady Macbeth, or will she navigate the treacherous waters of political power play with cold, calculated precision? As the lines between ambition and morality blur, we can only speculate and, in true Yellowstone fashion, brace ourselves for the storm that's bound to come.
