NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Compare and contrasts two novels by Cormac McCarthy All The pretty horses, and The Crossing. The history of land-reclamation of wild West is the part of American history, maybe not the best its part. In 20 th century the unknown land of Western part of America attracted a lot of people. People went to unknown places with aim to become rich, they dreamed to find gold. Possessed by their dream they forgot about moral There were the indigenous on the wild lands of the west.
They were Indians. It was the nation with own habits, traditions and lifestyle. It was the strong and wise nation who had to defend their land against explorers and they chose mostly the way of force. Its clear that they met the same way as the answer from white Americans. The methods which were chosen by them contradicted Christian moral: the violence, the destruction, spreading culture and traditions.
A lot of armed men rode horses wandered towards deep into the west. These people considered themselves as the hosts of that lands and established their rights. They went down into American history under mythical name as cowboys. Their life was often described as the life of especial people the heroes. We watch exciting films and read fascinating books about cowboys life. Though as the matter of fact we dont suspect what psychological and physiological struggle took place for both-as white Americans so Indians.
There is so called Western idea in the literature and art: to exaggerate the heroic feats of cowboys. Cormac McCarthy is one of the writers who has written about such period. Hes showed unknown sides of Western idea in his novels. He is really one who has managed to reflect this idea through the characters of his main persons. Perhaps the famous writers such as William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway had influence on McCarthys opinion as many other people abounding main persons, influenced of their characters, behavior and life. 1 Following the theory of stoicism McCarthy showed us antagonisms of real life and dream as well as how to change the characters of the main persons under the influence of real events. Two of his novels are All The pretty horses and The Crossing where the author showed the differences the real life from the dreams of young people who left their home trying to find the mythical cowboys life.
The main characters of the first novel are the young people: John Grady Cole of sixteen-year-old, Jimmy Blevins of seventeen-year-old their younger friend Lacey Rawlins and Alijandra. John Grady Cole left his home and went to Mexico expecting to find his dream. He doesnt know what dream is it but he full faith in it. His friend Blevins also left the home but he had another reason: he didnt want to put up with his step-father.
Accidentally they met their younger friend Lacey Rawlins. The boys are different, even it may say, they are opposite but they have the same aim. This thing joins them together. At the beginning of the novel all the events followed smoothly without excesses like a dream of our persons: sleeping under the stars, subsisting hand-to-mouth and migration always towards a green pasture... (The elements of landscape in McCarthys novel show us the link between dreams and reality. The description Of the sunset symbolize the end, walking John with his sweetheart symbolizes: real horses, real rider, real land and sky and yet a dream (The main persons are romantics as the author of this novel McCarthy. But in spite of his Romanism he led the characters through the testing: the pursuer, the prison where John and his friend were suffered indignity and tortures, love which gave only suffering.
Each of them passed testing differently. But all of these things are difficult psychological struggle inside of the main characters which has been caused by real events and had felt on their own back. This struggle has changed the appearance of John (the scar on his face and body), Rawlins died, Blevins returned to Texas again, but they were changed not only outside. They were changed inside too: they didnt believe the myth about heroical cowboy life any more, but it couldnt change the essence of their life. They send a challenge reality existing in this real life. 2 Next main character of McCarthy is from his novel The Crossing Bill Parham.
He also leaves his home In order to kill the wolf who harmed the family herds. But instead of killing he tries to save she-wolf which was entrapped. McCarthy shows the generosity of the youth, his moral. Of course Bill isnt single figure in the novel. He met with other ones: his younger brother Boyd saved by them girl and others. As well as in All The pretty horses the author puts on trails his main person.
McCarthy conveys psychological struggle inside of his person: Bill lost she-wolf, his brother was wounded badly and later Bill also lost his brother. Bills life is the crossing of roads, fates, characters that influence of Bill lifestyle. The main characters of McCarthy are different and alike at the same time. Both of them are romantics believing the myth about cowboy code, they are the last offspring's of cowboys Generation, existing into the American history once.
They refuse to take it. Both leave the home in search of something new. On the crossing of the roads they maybe lost faith of mythical life, but they have understood whats the real life like, not loosing their dignity, their honor, love for their neighbor according to cowboys code. Bibliography: 1 Three little horses 2 The crossing 3
Free research essays on topics related to: real life, white americans, young people, american history, main characters
Research essay sample on Main Characters White Americans
