Rooster

Rooster is a federal marshal. A lawman. He is employed by the government to search out, capture, and bring into custody criminals of all sorts. When he first appears in True Grit, he is just returning from an apparently very successful raid, having captured a great deal of criminals. Obviously he is very successful, though his methods are called into question in the next scene when an attorney questions Rooster while he is on the stand. The viewer learns that in his nearly four years as a federal marshal, he has killed twenty-three men, and presumably shot many more. He is accused of murdering the family of the defendant at the trial in cold blood, though Rooster claims he only killed them in self-defense. Either way, Rooster is suspect.

His personality and appearance do not endear Rooster to the viewer any more than his suspicious conduct. Rooster is large, rough looking, and wears a large eye patch that makes him appear vaguely sinister. His personality matches his less than refined appearance. He is rude, ignoring Mattie Ross when she attempts to get his attention while he brings in prisoners. He is gruff at the trial, almost refusing to answer the questions of the attorney questioning him. He also appears unrepentant about the many lives he has taken.

Despite all of the factors that suggest Rooster is a very unsavory character, we know he is a noble man by his profession (and the synopsis of the plot). He is an anti-hero, doing good using methods that are at the very least questionable. He is, regardless of anything, a powerful man and a powerful character.