All the Pretty Horses |
Author's Purpose
Cormac McCarthy has always been "an author of little words", but for an author with little words, his books do have a lot to say. Cormac McCarthy delivers his same unique writing style in his book, All the pretty Horses. This book packs a mature attitude and is not afraid to pull and punches, much like his other books. This book was definatey suited more for mature readers as is frequently uses Spanish and Spanish phrases. It also has an odd way of showing dialogue. The book is definitely meant for high schoolers and above, a more serious person. Cormac McCarthy, I think, was going through a time where he wanted to prove himself. This is what the book is about. The main character saddles up and rides down to Mexico for a fresh start.
In my opinion, Cormac McCarthy mostly relates himself with John Grady. John Grady only speaks when he is spoken to, or when he has something to say. He keeps to him self in a way that is very respectful and is brave. Cormac McCarthy makes books that can directly relate to Jon Grady's personality, respectful and candid. At times, John Grady shows his fun side and his amount of caring. This seems to me what Cormac McCarthy would be like. A caring man of few words, that actually, has quite a lot to say about things. I do not think that the author would at all see them self as Rawlins. While Rawlins is an amazing character, he just does not fit the style of Cormac McCarthy's other books. Rawlins is always talking and and complaining. This just does not fit any description from his other books. I also thin that the same goes for Blevins. Blevins is a kid who keeps on running away and doesn't have much to say about the world.
In my opinion, Cormac McCarthy mostly relates himself with John Grady. John Grady only speaks when he is spoken to, or when he has something to say. He keeps to him self in a way that is very respectful and is brave. Cormac McCarthy makes books that can directly relate to Jon Grady's personality, respectful and candid. At times, John Grady shows his fun side and his amount of caring. This seems to me what Cormac McCarthy would be like. A caring man of few words, that actually, has quite a lot to say about things. I do not think that the author would at all see them self as Rawlins. While Rawlins is an amazing character, he just does not fit the style of Cormac McCarthy's other books. Rawlins is always talking and and complaining. This just does not fit any description from his other books. I also thin that the same goes for Blevins. Blevins is a kid who keeps on running away and doesn't have much to say about the world.
Literary Analysis
All the Pretty horses is a book about a Young man, John Grady Cole who was raised by a working Mexican family for most of his life. When John Grady's Father dies, john Grady takes his friend and heads South of the American Boarder to Mexico to find a new life as a cowboy. For all of John Grady's life, he'd rode horses and was a very skilled rifer. John and his childhood friend Rawlins set out on a massive adventure in the land of Mexico. Soon into their adventure, the pair of friends meet a boy no older that the age of 12. This boy carries the name Blevins. Blevins was a mysterious kid at first, but then came to ride with John Grady and Rawlins, to Rawlin's distaste. While the trio are traveling, a storm hits. Blevins now mentions that he is afraid of lighting and flees his horse to take cover. Soon after the storm, the three find that Blevins' gun and horse have been stolen. Blevins is very strung out over this so the two teenage boys agree to help him find his belongings. After traveling for a while, they come across as a village. Blevins' horse is spotted and Blevins is so enraged, that he tried to steal the horse back. A villager is alerted and the trio is pursued. Blevins says that he will lead the pursuers away, so they split up. After a couple days, John Grady and Rawlins find work at a ranch. While working there, John Grady meets Alejandra, the ranch owner's daughter. Alejandra and John soon fall in love, but are warned not to be together by Alejandra's great aunt. Things seem to be going great. The town respects John and Rawlins and see them as great cowboys. All of this is soon ruined when John Grady and Rawlins are arrested. After Blevins had escaped the pursers, he went back and tried to get his things again, only this time, he had accidentally shot somebody. John Grady and Rawlins are accused of working with Blevins. The two cowboys are hauled away to prison where they reunite with Blevins. John and Rawlins soon realize that Blevins will be executed, but they are just stuck in prison. In the prison, John Grady and Rawlins are targeted in the prison and beat up daily. Soon, Rawlins is stabbed in the stomach and is taken away. John Grady is alone. John is soon targeted again by a man with a knife, but John manages to kill his attacker, but is badly injured. In the hospital, John learns that Rawlins is recovering and the both leave prison. Rawlins says that at this point, he is done with Mexico and takes a train back to Texas. After this, John Grady returns to see Alejandra but she says that she cannot be with him. John Grady, heartbroken, returns to the village and steals back his horses. He manages to return to Texas but finds his life turned upside down.
I think that a major theme in this book is self reliance. Throughout the book, John Grady relies on himself to get him and his friends out of bad situations. In the beginning, he trusted himself to venture into Mexico with his friend and become a cowboy. Another example is when he was stuck in prison without Rawlins, he had to make his own decisions to save his own life. He kept a cool head when talking to the other prisoner about protection. He also relied on himself when he had to fight to the death with his attacker. John Grady proved himself to be a strong independent person.
I think that a major theme in this book is self reliance. Throughout the book, John Grady relies on himself to get him and his friends out of bad situations. In the beginning, he trusted himself to venture into Mexico with his friend and become a cowboy. Another example is when he was stuck in prison without Rawlins, he had to make his own decisions to save his own life. He kept a cool head when talking to the other prisoner about protection. He also relied on himself when he had to fight to the death with his attacker. John Grady proved himself to be a strong independent person.