He began questioning on film if the violence that was the former screen persona's daily bread did not exact a toll. Was the man with the big gun not dehumanized and desensitized by carrying and using that weapon. In this film he clearly envies the man who, though once a criminal, has reformed and built a strong family, even if that relationship turns out to be only temporarily. Just as an aside, an interesting visual allusion is used. It is a reminder of the days when Eastwood was building his reputation and his films were just solid entertainment.
Great people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about things. Small people talk about people.