The Virginian, by Owen Wister - 958 Words

The Virginian The cowboy hero, The Virginian, as portrayed in Owen Wister’s novel was the first of his kind and today is known as the stereotypical mythic cowboy figure which our view of the western frontier are based from. The Virginian was the first full length western novel apart from the short dime novels which marked the final stage in the evolution of the cowboy hero to a national icon. The Virginian was published in 1902 and at that time was wildly popular because of the settlement of the west. The story of the cowboy who had the skill and courage to take control of the untamed frontier enthralled people. The cowboy hero had a few distinguished qualities, he was a self-appointed vigilante, he had a very strict moral code, he†¦show more content†¦The man had thrown something, which turned out to be a bottle.† (66). This little exchange following the stage coach incident with Molly was an example of the intolerance the Virginian had for the mistreatment of women and he stood by his moral code and saved her from any further danger. Finally the western hero’s wit and exceptional skills of perception really brought the most depth and character to the mythic cowboy hero. The wit of a cowboy and his capacity to understand an audience is commonly the point of a challenge as we see in The Virginian. â€Å"Once again I had heard applied to the Virginian that epithet which Steve so freely used. The same words, identical to the letter. But this time they had produced a pistol. When you call me that, SMILE! So I perceived a new example of the old truth, that the letter means nothing until the spirit gives it life.† (21). The Virginian is putting Trampas in his place with the phrase, â€Å"When you call me that, smile!† he orders the action and reins his enemies with his speech as greatly as he does with his physical actions. His speech is held in reserve for only the moments he needs to use it, much like his other abilities. The western hero rarely uses his gun or language as a weapon, but when he does it is powerful, precise and effective. Typically a cowboy is a man of little words but when he does talk he has a way of getting right downShow MoreRelatedThe Virginian by Owen Wister540 Words   |  2 PagesWyoming. The character of the Virginian is introduced in Medicine Bow when on business. While in Medicine Bow he plays cards with a cowboy named Trampas. Trampas accuses the Virginian of cheating to which the Virginian pulls out a gun in the effort to stop the accusations. This causes Trampas to develop a hatred for the Virginian and that’s when their rival began. Throughout the book there is conflict between Trampas and the Virginian eventually leading to the Virginian killing due to a threat thatRead MoreThe Wister s Relationship Between The Virginian And Many Of The Other Characters936 Words   |  4 PagesOwen Wister develops relationships between the Virginian and many of the other characters. By doing this he shows how friendships either form or are never thought of. Some of the relationships are the Judge, Molly, and Trampas. The Virginian’s relationship with the Judge and Molly are good relationships, but the one with Trampas is not. His relationship with the Judge becomes a friendship because the Judge finds him trustworthy. Molly also becomes a friend of the Virginian because he is trustworthyRead MoreAmerican Character - Then and Now2118 Words   |  9 Pagesrole in molding peoples impression of the west, the novel which combined many individual roles of each western into one was probably The Virginian by Own Wister. This novel was so influential in helping to engrave American character in that it incorporated Turners idea of the disappearing frontier, trial and experience, and self-reliance (Cullen 132). Owen Wister had previously worked on another novel with Theodore Roosevelt and Frederic Remington called, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail. This n ovelRead More american character - then and now Essay2086 Words   |  9 Pagesrole in molding people’s impression of the west, the novel which combined many individual roles of each western into one was probably The Virginian by Own Wister. This novel was so influential in helping to engrave American character in that it incorporated Turner’s idea of the disappearing frontier, trial and experience, and self-reliance (Cullen 132). Owen Wister had previously worked on another novel with Theodore Roosevelt and Frederic Remington called, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail. This novel