Here's a shocker for you: life in the Wild West wasn't quite like it's depicted in cowboy movies. For example, you don't usually hear about how mega-wealthy businessmen used shady labor practices to line their own pockets. You don't hear the stories of the many immigrant groups who made a home in that unforgiving country. And, you don't hear a lick about the day-to-day lives of the regular folk who bucked tradition to become trailblazing pioneers. Ultimately, Angle of Repose shows us that life in the American West was a lot more complicated than modern stereotypes would have us believe.
Questions About Visions of the West
- In what ways do we see the West change over the course of the novel?
- Compare and contrast Susan's views of the Northeast and the West.
- Why does Susan fall so hard in love with Mexico?
- What is Susan's favorite place to live in the West? Her least favorite?