Final answer:
The Virginian's preferred reading suggests an alignment with traditional values, authority, and community cohesion, contrasting with the individualistic ideals of the American frontier depicted in works such as Zane Grey's 'Riders of the Purple Sage.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The Virginian's choice of preferred reading is significant as it provides insight into his character and the values he represents. In Owen Wister's The Virginian, the protagonist's interest in traditional novels of courtly love, the importance of authority, and the virtues of marriage and family, suggests a connection to traditional American values and the social order of the time.
This is contrasted with Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage, which depicts a rougher, more opportunistic and individualistic America, challenging readers with characters like the outlaw Jim Lassiter and the pioneer woman Jane Withersteen who forge a new life on the outskirts of society.
The Virginian's preferred reading, therefore, reflects his alignment with traditionalism and an adherence to establishment values, indicating a character who values stability, respectability, and community cohesion over the more rugged, individualistic ideals of the American frontier.