Essay Questions

Is ravenousness one of the main themes in the 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey?

Jane lives in a society that is greedy for wealth. When her father passes away, Jane is the heiress of his fortune, ranging from thousands of cattle, acres of land, and money. Jane becomes the wealthiest person in Utah after the demise of her father. All men are after her hand for marriage because they want to take what she has. Ironically, the Mormon Church members are the greediest. Instead of protecting Jane, Elder Tuli intends to marry her by force. However, Jane refuses his proposal, and he decides to make her life miserable using his influence and authority. Jane is forced to run away but attacked on the way by robbers. The author depicted men's interests in the 18th century when they believed that everything that belonged to their wives is theirs. That is the main reason why every man was after Jane, not for love, but for her wealth.

How does the allegory of gender disparity emerge in the book?

The author uses the female character called Bess to develop the allegory of gender disparity. Bess is a woman with exceptional skills in the 18th century. A woman is considered a lesser being and should not be equated to a man by any standards. Bess does many things that most men cannot do, including ace shooting, horse riding. Bess's skills are inconceivable, and many are jealousy of her. To avoid being recognized, Bess covers her face with a mask to camouflage as a man. The author illustrates the ingenuity of the male gender by introducing a super-intelligent woman. According to the reader's conclusions, given equal opportunities, women can do great things to make the world a better place.

What is the main satire in the novel 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey?

The church is viewed as the icon of morality and fair treatment of people. Ironically, the Mormon Church elders are doing the exact opposite. These church elders are greedy, and they are after enriching themselves. The reader does not expect church elders like Tuli to force women to marry them. However, Tuli is forcing Jane to marry her so that he can get entitlement to her wealth. Tuli's actions expose the irony of the church leadership, which is entrusted with guiding the flock to eternal glory.