An Interpretation Of The American West Sprit In The Virginian

Hailed as “Father of the American Western Cowboy Novel”,Owen Wister has been a sparkling star in American literary history.The Virginian,his masterpiece,receiving warm welcome and infinite love from numerous readers since published in 1902,has become the first real western cowboy novel.The Virginian creates a brand new cowboy image different from any one earlier.The Virginian,stout and virile,tender and caring,is a legendary cowboy who rises from rags to riches.By establishing a new western formula,Wister's cowboy stories mark that this genre comes into being in American history.The Virginian,the most widely-read novel by Wister,has exerted a profound influence on American literature even till the present day.The Virginian presents the audience a full,colorful and optimistic western cowboy.The thesis gives a deep analysis of the American west spirit embodied in The Virginian and values of this spirit.Chapter one gives a brief introduction about the author Owen Wister,his masterpiece The Virginian,and the creating background of this novel as well as relevant literature review at home and abroad.Chapter two touches on the historical background and social significance of the Westward Movement in America.Chapter three elaborates on the American west spirit embodied in The Virginian: the spirit of self-reliance,of seeking adventure and meeting challenge,of upholding justice,of keeping optimistic and so on.Chapter four makes a further probe into the realistic values of American west spirit,which is the source of American national spirit.And the most important embodiment of American national spirit is American Dream,Individualism and Pragmatism——the spiritual and moral label for American people.The last chapter leads to the conclusion of the whole thesis.The Virginian created by Owen Wister embodies the adventurous experiences during the westward exploitation and presents the American west spirit.Due to the nostalgia about the long gone West,western cowboy novels,especially The Virginian by Owen Wister,have become the most precious spiritual treasure for American people.