All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy - 602 Words

Cormac McCarthy is a man who holds few interviews. Even today, he is known as one of the world’s greatest, most prolific authors though most of his personal opinions are left unreported. In a rare interview with a New York Times journalist, McCarthy says the philosophical words: â€Å"Theres no such thing as life without bloodshed† completely revealing the coveted theme of his novel, All the Pretty Horses. Considering the amount of violence that manifests itself in the book; Blevins’ murder, the prison fight, and the gunfight between John Grady and the ranch workers; all of which results from Grady’s pursuit of a peaceful life, the theme McCarthy wished to broadcast, a theme of inescapable violence, was true in its delivery. John Grady left his home in Dallas, Texas to make a home in Mexico. He was in pursuit of a life in which freedoms are generously given and previous negative memories he had wouldn’t exist. Along the way, Grady met a young, pride ful boy known by the name Jimmy Blevins. Initially, Grady regarded him as a nuisance but, eventually Blevins gained his acceptance and together they crossed the Rio Grande. In Mexico, however, they were separated, and finally reunited in a jail cell. Blevins was soon taken away and shot. After hearing the crack of the gun, Grady â€Å"...almost reached to pull down the front of his hat brim but then he remembered that they had no hats anymore† (179). The lowering of his hat brim is a token of respectShow MoreRelatedAll The Pretty Horses By Cormac Mccarthy1571 Words   |  7 PagesAll The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy is a coming of age novel centered around the protagonist, John Grady Cole as he ventures to Mexico to pursue his ideal life. The exact moment in which John Grady Cole’s character changes irrevocably, and truly comes of age, is when he stabs another prisoner in the heart while in prison in Mexico. In that moment, his youth and innocence fall away, and h e gains the kind of understanding of the world that can only come when one becomes a man. In the beginningRead MoreAll the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy - Individualism vs. Society1662 Words   |  7 Pagesof time. â€Å"All the Pretty Horses† by Cormac McCarthy adds 302 more pages to the pile of all the works that have been on the quest to define individualism. In this novel, McCarthy takes us through four faces of the key character’s life, John Grady, to portray the idea of illusory individualism. He contends that John Grady is simply a product of a society in contrast to his (Grady) notion of free will. Simply put: Grady has no alternatives but an obligation to conform to society. McCarthy uses him toRead MoreExplanation of a Scene from All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy613 Words   |  3 PagesThe scene is when the Vaqueros bring in wild colts from the mesa stuck out to me. The scene shows John Grady’s knowledge and care of horses and shows the c ommon misconceptions of a horse by Rawlings. The scene also shows the level of confidence that John Grady has in his own ability with horses and the trust that Rawlins has in him when it comes to break the horses in only four days. As the owner of the ranch gave the permission to try, while still say in not so nice a way they had no chance, youRead MoreAll the Pretty Horses vs. the Searchers1288 Words   |  6 PagesAll the Pretty Horses/The Searchers The ideal American West or in other words Hollywoods West is described as being a life of adventure, one with beautiful scenery, and a world made up of brave, rough, intuitive, fearless cowboys. Cormac McCarthys All the Pretty Horses challenges and at times romanticizes the description of the ideal American West, whereas, John Fords film The Searchers romanticizes the description of the ideal American West. This is shown through their description ofRead More Blood in Cormac McCarthys All The Pretty Horses Essay948 Words   |  4 PagesBlood in Cormac McCarthys All The Pretty Horses In All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy uses blood as a unifying concept allowing it to flow within the body of the text; the reader gets a sense that the novel is giving life to someone while simultaneously bringing upon its death. The reality of John Grady exists within the use of blood, connecting his life to the natural beauty and animals through which his character emerges. Blood is essential for the human race; we need it to live, onceRead More The Godmother of All the Pretty Horses Essay797 Words   |  4 PagesThe Godmother of All the Pretty Horses In analysis of the character, Duena Alfonsa, in the novel All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, facets of her character are clearly revealed. From her physical deformity to her feelings of her father keeping her exiled in her own country, seventy-two year old Alfonsa is filled with a lifetime of complex situations. Her character was consistent and motivational in wisdom and provided greatness in her role in the novel. She is a grandaunt andRead More Development of Character in Cormac McCarthys All the Pretty Horses1357 Words   |  6 PagesDevelopment of Character in Cormac McCarthys All the Pretty Horses In a journey across the vast untamed country of Mexico, Cormac McCarthy introduces All the Pretty Horses, a bittersweet and profoundly moving tale of love, hate, disappointments, joy, and redemption. John Grady sets out on horseback to Mexico with his best friend Lacey Rawlins in search of the cowboy lifestyle. His journey leaves John wiser but saddened, yet out of this heartbreak comes the resilience of a man who has claimed hisRead MoreEssay on Flight in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses1845 Words   |  8 PagesFlight in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses In an enticingly realistic novel, contemporary western writer Cormac McCarthy tells the coming-of-age story of a young John Grady Cole whose life begins and, in a sense, ends in rustic San Angelo. Page by page, McCarthy sends his protagonist character creation on a Mexican adventure, complete with barriers, brawls, and beauties. The events which bring about John Grady’s adventure and the reasons behind his decision to flight familiarity areRead More Suffering in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses Essay1395 Words   |  6 PagesSuffering in Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses In All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy tells the tale of John Grady Cole’s quest to capture the ideal qualities of a cowboy as he sees them: laid-back, unfettered, nomadic and carefree attitudes. These qualities soon clash, however, with the reality of darkness, suffering and mystery that seems to follow him. Reality constantly subverts his ideal dream. Time and time again, John Grady Cole works to be this fantasy, but through reality’sRead MoreAll The Pretty Horses And The Searchers Comparison1113 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Cormac McCarthys All the Pretty Horses and John Fords The Searchers depict a  ¨cowboy ¨ going on an adventure, but each shows the myth of the cowboy in very different lights. The Searchers shows John Wayne as a great man loyal to his family who will do anything to protect them. McCarthy shows the cowboy John Grady as a boy who wants to chase the dream of the life of a cowboy. These differences are very similar to the more major contra st between the novel and the movies’ views on the myth of