The struggle between good and evil in Hombre places it firmly in the western literary tradition, but the conclusion separates it from most of its predecessors. Also distinguishing it is its realism, as opposed to the romanticism that is commonplace in the genre. This realism is characteristic not only of the plot but also of the characters, who are more like ordinary people than the genre's stereotypical heroes and villains. John Russell in particular, but others as well, are developed substantively rather than in simple cartoon fashion, which adds narrative and thematic depth to the work. Because Russell is portrayed as an outsider, standing apart from the social mainstream, he is related to many previous heroes in American fiction, as far back as Natty Bumpo.