The Life of Buffalo Bill · Theme
Transformation of the Landscape
How The Life of Buffalo Bill develops Transformation of the Landscape.
The book traces the rapid change of the frontier from a wild, open prairie to a landscape marked by railroads, settlements, and organized hunts, signaling the end of the 'wild' West.
Where it surfaces
- Childhood
The journey through Iowa and Missouri and the family's settlement in Kansas illustrate the transformation of the landscape as settlers moved westward.
- Champion Buffalo Killer
The mass killing of buffalo for sport and railroad advertising symbolizes the dramatic alteration of the Great Plains ecosystem.
- Conclusion
The roundup and cattle driving illustrate the transformation of the prairie into a managed landscape for ranching.
- Endnotes
The mention of a cattle ranch in Nebraska illustrates the shift from open plains to settled agricultural and ranching enterprises.