The Western is a myth. Now by myth I don’t mean this in a derogatory sense (just like I would say the Bible is a myth) nor do I mean this in some post-modern soulless deconstructionist way. Rather I mean this in the classic way, myth meaning stories that transcend our world and teach us more about ourselves than any non-fiction work ever could hope to. I mean a myth in the sense of King David, Beowulf, The Iliad, and so on and so forth.
Meaning a myth in the highest honor one could give a story. A myth is something that touches us on the deepest level and teaches us how to move forward, deal with life, and overcome the obstacles in our path, as well as much more. Myths are about teaching lessons not about getting every factual detail spot on. Myths aren’t about engaging the intellect as they are about engaging the soul (which is far far greater).
And the Western is no exception. Though the Western is probably the youngest of all myths (given that America is one of the youngest countries) that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have the power of the old myths contained within it. There is a reason that long past the conquering of the frontier that the Western holds such as timeless appeal, to those from all over the world and regardless of their heritage.
Looking For A Hero
Its not secret that there’s a lack of good in our world. That there is a lack of good character, lack of good men, and lack of good women. Now it’s always been this way to one extent or another but we’re certainly living through an interesting time where societal forces are pushing to make this so, as opposed to helping fight against it in other times. What’s needed more than ever is strength to fight back against this, but that is rare in these times.
So many have given into to cynicism as well as defeat. There are no heroes, there are no cowboys left to ride out and fight. Most figure “What’s the use?”. And I understand this to a large extent and it was my mindset for the longest time. It was funny in studying fiction and studying more and more about stories and especially about what makes someone a hero one of the biggest things I could find was not giving up in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
That is what makes a hero. Whether they win or lose, they stand their ground and go forward. And in many ways that is what this world needs heroes (or anti-heroes depending on your definitions). It’s easy to be cynical there is nothing manly, brave, strong, or “heroic” (a word that unfortunately has been taken, used, and abused by people with agendas) about cynicism and giving in and giving up.
Saddle Up & Ride
And that was something I noticed about many Westerns. The hero despite facing odds that most likely will result in him failing, whether him looking foolish or end up dead depending on the circumstance. But they saddle up and ride anyways and that’s what makes these stories so powerful. The saddle up and riding anyways aspect of them. Going in the face of impossible odds and doing it anyways because your convictions and your manhood bids you to do something, even if it seems foolish to the average “man”.
It requires sticking your neck out, which can always result in that neck getting chopped off. But that’s part of being a man. Part of being a man is stepping into the arena knowing damn well that it might not go the way that you intend or that you want it to go. And it could end with all in the audience booing and/or laughing at you but “saddling up and riding” anyways.
To stare at the harshness, unfairness, and sometimes shitty aspect of the world, society, and sometimes the universe as a whole and saying “Fuck it, I go anyways.” and then going forward. You might hear sneers behind you and there will be a part of you screaming to go back but that comes with the territory. With anything in life you have to take risks and go forward even when it seems foolish to the average person (or even to yourself sometimes).
Manhood & The Western
And even better if you can do all of this with a quiet mind and a smile on your lips. In many ways the Western is mythic instruction on masculinity and manhood. Well at least the well written ones are and the ones that follow the traditional mythic structure. And this is a sorely missed lesson for most males in todays world, especially “red pill” males. Who often develop a victim mindset and are told to revel in their weakness.
But that’s not what this is about. And don’t look at this through a moral lens. But rather through a masculinity lens. Someone who is good at being a man (as opposed to a “good” man) is someone who rides out despite the odds and does so with a smile on their face. Something that we can all learn from and grow from. So be sure to pick up a good Western novel sometime soon.
If anything I said here interests you I’d highly recommend you check out The Ultimate Alpha Collection which is a compilation of 16 of my books for the price of 5. It covers everything from being a man to making money to getting the right mindset to getting girls to fighting and more and is a resource no man should be without. Pick up your copy today!
-Charles Sledge
