# Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion in A Cycle of the West

> Theme guide for A Cycle of the West by John G. Neihardt.

The narrative chronicles the relentless push of white settlers and prospectors into the trans-Missouri region, portraying it as an inevitable, often destructive force that reshapes the land and displaces indigenous peoples.

## Where it surfaces

- [I: Ashley’s Hundred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/i-ashley-s-hundred): The westward journey of these men is framed as part of a larger, inevitable expansion across the continent.
- [The Song of the Indian Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/the-song-of-the-indian-wars): The chapter illustrates the relentless push of American settlers and the military into Native lands, driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny, leading to violent conflicts and displacement.
- [I: The Sowing of the Dragon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/i-the-sowing-of-the-dragon): The chapter vividly portrays the post-Civil War westward surge as a 'Cadmian breed' driven by an 'ancient and compelling Aryan urge,' framing expansion as an inevitable, almost mythic force.
- [IV: Fort Phil Kearney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/iv-fort-phil-kearney): The building of the fort and the logging operations symbolize the aggressive westward expansion, with the fort described as 'brazened out the sun' and a 'builded insolence' against the land.
- [VII: Beecher's Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/vii-beecher-s-island): The railroad's relentless advance is depicted as a 'metal serpent' and 'bold earth-takers,' symbolizing the inexorable push of white settlement across the plains.
- [VIII: The Yellow God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/viii-the-yellow-god): The relentless westward flood of settlers, railroads, and mining operations embodies the expansionist drive that overruns Native territories.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/themes/manifest_destiny_and_westward_expansion
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/themes