A Cycle of the West · Chapter
VIII: The Yellow God explained
This chapter depicts the gold rush into the Black Hills following Custer's 1874 expedition, the violation of treaties with the Sioux, and the encroaching doom felt by the Native peoples as their lands, buffalo, and way of life are destroyed
What happens
This chapter depicts the gold rush into the Black Hills following Custer's 1874 expedition, the violation of treaties with the Sioux, and the encroaching doom felt by the Native peoples as their lands, buffalo, and way of life are destroyed by the relentless tide of white settlement and greed.
Themes in this chapter
Greed and Materialism
The 'Yellow God' of gold drives a mad rush of settlers, gamblers, and dreamers, overriding treaties and destroying the land and its original inhabitants.
Loss and Nostalgia
The chapter mourns the passing of the old Sioux way of life, the buffalo, and the 'braver days,' as elders recall the giants of the past and the world withers.
Conflict and Cultural Collision
The clash between the Sioux's spiritual connection to the land and the white man's commodification of nature and gold is a central tension.
Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
The relentless westward flood of settlers, railroads, and mining operations embodies the expansionist drive that overruns Native territories.
Characters to notice
- George Armstrong Custer
Custer is portrayed as a legendary figure, the 'Wolf of Washita,' whose 1874 expedition into the Black Hills and public reports of gold there ignite the gold rush and treaty violations.
- Crazy Horse
Mentioned as one of the strong-hearted Sioux leaders shepherding their people on the Tongue and Powder rivers, resisting alien ways.
- Sitting Bull
Listed alongside Crazy Horse and Gall as a leader of the Sioux who still hold to the old ways.
- Gall
Included with Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull as a chief guiding the people on the Tongue and Powder.
- Black Kettle
Recalled as the victim of Custer's attack at the Washita, his death a symbol of the violence against the Plains tribes.
Key passages
“The lust for gold begetting lust for gold.”
The desire for gold creates an endless cycle of greed.
Captures the self-perpetuating nature of the gold rush frenzy.
“All dreamers of the old pathetic dream— Pursued what no pursuing overtakes.”
All those chasing the ancient, futile dream of easy wealth never catch what they seek.
Reflects the tragic futility of the gold seekers' quest.
“The buffalo would join the fathers soon. The world was withered like a man grown old.”
The buffalo would soon be extinct, and the world had grown old and barren.
Expresses the sense of impending loss and decay of the natural world.
“A little paper, dirtied with a lie, For all that used to be.”
A worthless treaty, stained with falsehood, would be all that remained of their former life.
Condemns the broken treaties as empty promises.