Identity and Place

Identity and Place

In "Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs," Wallace Stegner shares his vast knowledge of the West. He writes clearly about the inter-connectedness of history, place, agriculture, water, public lands, animals and people. He identifies certain Western characters who are at once archetypal and yet in some way common to every Westerner.
The "untrammeled individualist" (111) is indicative of the cowboy myth. Stegner finds the cowboy myth irritating in that it does not truly represent Western life. He does state that it points to true aspects of Western character. The romantic notion of the West and its freedom keeps the cowboy myth alive. Many are drawn to the idea of self-reliance and opportunity. But why the West? Stegner believes that we equate the openness of the West with freedom and the potential for great accomplishment. In addition, he claims that the physical space of the West and its aridity preserve the myth. I agree with Steg...