"Yeehaw!" Does Betsy or Lenny Yell it Louder?
This past semester I learned about the lore of the cowboy in US History. I learned societies views of cowboys as heroes who fight vigilante has morphed over the years. A few main themes that arise are their horseback riding skills, low levels of fear, connection with the wild west, gun fight skills, and their advantageous use of land. Cowboys are famed as crime fighting heroes and cowgirls are known for stepping outside societies boundaries to sling a whip for the good of all. In "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, two characters attempt to take on the roles of 'cowpeople', but neither quite succeeds. The first character who attempts to play the famous role of a cowgirl is Betsy, though she does so subconsciously. She's described as someone who tries to save Esther from the confines of her room, and from Doreen, who may or may not be a bad influence. This savior dynamic is one cowboys often portray in western movies, books, and tv shows. Even though Be...