Is the Mythology of the Old West Dead?

"The fascination that the old west has will never die." -John Wayne

The mythology of the Old West has been denigrated by the people who created literary fashion. They say it's idealized, simplistic, tired and, most importantly, wrong. Good guys have never been so good. The pioneers and settlers displaced the nobles who already occupied the land. Rude immigrants have come in droves to desecrate pristine nature. The heroic eulogy usually involved vigilantism, which offended those who honor the rule of law.

The same mythology escapes criticism in fantasy and science fiction, so why is it disparaged in Westerners? These are all made-up stories, but morality games in these other genres are accepted. The battle between good and evil, selfless sacrifice, idealized heroism, and adventure away from home are popular themes in hugely popular genres. Few people doubt that the Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings or the work of Arthur C. Clarke and HG Wells is respectable literature. It could be argued that similar themes are even reflected in nursery rhymes. Could the difference be that the old west actually happened?

Before we answer this question, we should take another look at Old West mythology. It's more than paladins throwing weapons. There are three main elements, with many tributaries. The first is the romance of a fresh start. The second is the battle of good against evil. The last element is the lone warrior who settles things.

The West, outer space, the future, or an imaginary land represent a fresh start in a cool place away from home - not being disappointed and having the chance to start all over again. The romance and adventure of borders attracts people desperate to escape the work of their present existence. We saw this in real life with migrations to the New World and the Wild West, but today many people are satisfying this desire vicariously with fiction. If you are poor, your family makes you miserable, you have committed an act that offends society, or the urge to travel has seized you, then the adventure and limitless opportunity of a border await you as a siren call. Migrating to a border means you have a do-over in a country without rules, without fences, without arbitrators.

Real life is a grayscale, somewhat skewed towards the darker side of the spectrum. A new life wouldn't entice us if we had to bring our old luggage, so we see our new world in black and white. There is strength in righteousness, perseverance and risk are rewarded, good people do good and bad people get their deserts. It is a world of hope. Hope for wealth, hope for justice, hope for a different path in life. Good fights evil and good always triumphs. It is a theme that has been part of the narrative in all societies since the first cave drawings.

We know we are weak, so good needs help. A rough border is dangerous. The elements and carnivorous animals threaten at every turn. People are fighting ruthlessly to claim part of the land. No civilization means no restriction on bad people doing bad things. Help comes in the form of an idealized hero, perhaps an anti-hero who overcomes his moral failings to help the innocent. This person is typically portrayed as a lone warrior, like the one Tom Wolfe praised in The Right Stuff. The hero is capable of violent action, but he's basically good. The shooter in westerns wears a simple fix on his hip. Frodo has the ring and Potter has his wand. In these mythical realms, the hero risks his life to save the day and asks for nothing in return.

Western mythology appeals to us because it promises a world different from ours. Hard work pays off. We have freedom of movement with horses and trains. We get vicarious revenge against the nasty people in our lives. And wealth. Wealth comes from the land and the land is free. The whole is enveloped in idealized virtues that make us feel safe and full of hope. And we can experience it all while reading in our favorite chair.

Which brings us back to our question. Are these themes less acceptable in westerns because the old west actually existed?

Yes.

History shows that the idealized border was a myth. No matter how attractive the theme is, it gives fantasy and sci-fi a huge advantage, which are unrelated to reality. In the real Old West, the bad guys have often won. Specifically, the forts and volunteers won, many times using intimidation tactics. In the real world, Native Americans were defeated by hordes of pioneers. The miners raked the surface of the beautiful countryside and then fled when the easy money ran out. Historical documents make it easy for someone to say, "But it wasn't like that." Does this mean that Western mythology is not suitable for fiction?

No.

Authors, however, must approach Westerners as historical fiction. Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy already do. They tell stories that incorporate elements of Western mythology, but they use gradation in their plots and nuance stereotypical plots. Their books are filled with lifelike characters and they understand the facts. Fantasy and science fiction can get away with an idealized binary world, but Westerners must cross the 19th century border with realism and respect for the authentic experience of pioneers and Native Americans.