All The Pretty Horses Essay

All The Pretty Horses Alfonsa Character Analysis

In All the Pretty Horses, a feminist reader would take issue with Alfonsa's character, and how she uses her power in attempts to control others, even though in her childhood she was controlled and oppressed herself; a feminist would make sense of these issues by understanding how Alfonsa's past influenced her actions in the present. In part four the reader discovers that Alfonsa's entire childhood and young adult life had been controlled and oppressed by men. The main focus of her backstory, had to with her Father, Francisco and Gustavo and how the affected her life. In the backstory Alfonsa was treated by her father like a stereotypical female. When she loses her fingers the main concern is the affect on her reputation. Alfonsa says that...show more content...

Alfonsa makes the decision for Alejandra that John Grady is not right for her, and that she should not be allowed to be with him. When talking to John Grady, she tells him that she won't have Alejandra "spoken ill of. Or gossiped about" (McCarthy,136). Alfonsa could have supported Alejandra and defended her against peoples rumors. Instead she tries to control Alejandra's life. If Alfonsa's character were a feminist, she would have respected Alejandra and her decision to be with John Grady. A true feminist would support her fellow women and allow them to lead the life she wants to lead. By refusing to let Alejandra be with John Grady, even though thats what she clearly wants, Alfonsa is oppressing her. A way a feminist may reconcile this issue is by having both Alfonsa and Alejandra have a real conversation about Alejandra's relationship with John Grady. The two could have both worked through Alfonsa's problems with the relationship, and be adults about it. A feminist reader would want there to be open conversations between Alejandra and Alfonsa; Especially because of Alfonsa's past. Alfonsa never had a real say in anything that happened to her, and a feminist reader would want Alfonsa to learn from the control and oppression she went through, not repeat

All The Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses

1.) Characters in the novel are John Grady, Lacey Rawlins, Belvins, Alejandra, Senor Rocha, Cole, Franklin, Captain and Perez. The most important characters throughout the novel are John Grady, Belvins, Rawlins, and Alejandra as they are the major characters.

7.) In the novel, a main character that disliked another character in the story was Rawlins. He loathed the young kid Belvins, who accompanied John Grady and Rawlins on their journey to Mexico. Rawlins was not a fan of Belvin's because he was simply threatened by him, and he believed that Belvins was all trouble. He had a bigger horse, more ambition, and could do many things better than Rawlins even though he was so much younger. For example, in one particular scene, Rawlins is talking about how good of a "shot" he has. Belvins commented on Rawlins claim stating that he has a great shot, in fact the best one in town. Flustered after hearing enough from Belvins, Rawlins asks him to prove his shot by shooting a hole through his wallet. Agreeing, Belvins shoots a hole right through the center of Rawlins wallet when it is thrown into the air. This specific event shuts Rawlins up for the rest of the night.

14.) In the novel, the character John Grady is extremely similar to my friend Amber. Physical appearance between the two of them is not similar at all, their personality are the same. Amber and John Grady are both down to earth people in general. Throughout his journey, John Grady is fascinated by Get more content

Literary commentary essay In the excerpt on pages 147–151 of All the pretty horses Cormac McCarthy shows through various literary techniques such as imagery and diction. As well as his use of language and the structure of the passage to show how the horses are such a big part of the story, how they are not just a way of transportation for John Grady Cole and Rawlins, they are almost everything to them. From friends to their life's passion these horses are what really drives them and neither of them would be the same without them. Throughout this passage there are multiple effects that come from Cormac McCarthy's choices of literary techniques and structure of the passage. They all mainly focus on the horses and their impact with John Grady and Rawlins. Throughout the passage Cormac McCarthy shows that the horses are a connection to the things that John Grady and Rawlins love, you never really see them upset when they are with horses. McCarthy displays this on pg 147 when it says " They rode hard hazing the wild manadas out of the high valleys and they camped at their old site on the south slope of the Anteojos where they camped with Luis." This is something that both Rawlins and John Grady love doing and it is closely tied to the horses. McCarthy most likely does this to symbolize how important the horses are to them and also how the horses are not just a mere mode of transportation, they are their passion and what they love doing. You can tell that both have formed

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All the Pretty Horses John Grady Cole, the last in a long line of west Texas ranchers, is, at sixteen, poised on the sorrowful, painful edge of manhood. When he realizes the only life he has ever known is disappearing into the past and that cowboys are as doomed as the Comanche who came before them, he leaves on a dangerous and harrowing journey into the beautiful and utterly foreign world that is Mexico. In the guise of a classic Western, All the Pretty Horses is at its heart a lyrical and elegiac coming–of–age story about love, friendship, and loyalty that will leave John Grady, and the reader, changed forever. When his mother decides to sell the cattle ranch he has grown up working, John Grady Cole and his friend Lacey Rawlins...show more content...

On the run, they split up, with John Grady and Rawlins finding refuge on a hacienda where few questions are asked and a talent for breaking horses is still a source of honor, and where they fall into a routine as familiar to them as the shape of their saddles. At night, John Grady rides the patron's prized sire through the mountains beyond the hacienda in the company of Alejandra, the patron's beautiful daughter. But in a land as bound by honor and reputation as this is, the white–hot love between John Grady and this girl is as dangerous as anything they will face. When soldiers arrive to take John Grady and Rawlins away, the boys know it has nothing to do with Jimmy Blevins, but is instead because of some deeper, more elusive transgression that John Grady has committed in the name of love. With no one to plead their case, their fate is dire indeed. John Grady and Rawlins find themselves in a Mexican prison governed by stark violence. But in the hands of Cormac McCarthy this place takes on a dreamlike quality; it is not right or wrong, good or evil, but merely as inevitable a part of life as the sun setting in the West, something that must be faced in order for one to survive. All the Pretty Horses is the first volume in the Border Trilogy (the second volume is entitled The Crossing; and the third, The Cities of Get more content

All The Pretty Horses Analysis

In the novel "All the Pretty Horses" by Cormac McCarthy, the protagonist, John Grady Cole has a sense of teenage invincibility as runs away from home and through his experiences in Mexico he transitions into a weathered man that realizes he cannot achieve his simple dream of becoming a rancher and marrying Alejandra. During his time inMexico he is tested morally, physically and mentally when he faces companionship, heartbreak and adversaires throughout the book. When John abruptly leaves his home, he becomes more mature and realistic as to how the world operates. He crosses into a new country as an ignorant boy that is filled with "ten thousand worlds for [his] choosing" (30) with no real plan. A few days into his journey, he encounters a boy by the name of Jimmy Blevins. John begins to serve as an authority figure, like a father or older brother to both Rawlins and Blevins despite being roughly the same age as the two. He is forced further into adulthood by undertaking the responsibility of caring and leading their group in Mexico. This is demonstrated during the lightening storm when John "took out his spare shirt and pitched it down to Blevins" (72) and allows Blevin to ride on his horse. John expresses his disappointment like a father would, but ultimately helps Blevins because he feels he has an obligation to look after him. Additionally, he speaks to all the Mexican natives on their behalf and purposely neglects telling Rawlins and Blevins disconcerting information.

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Blood in Cormac McCarthy's 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, once having bled we learn and if we lose it all, we die. Nonetheless, blood associates us to the world around us; its flow so similar to the flowing waters, its color so alive and "nothing can be proven except that it is made bleed." (p.230)

The...show more content...

Not excluding death." (p 136) McCarthy also uses this connection of blood and nature to produce an feeling of something is slowly dying as the novel progresses: "The sun to the west lay blood red among the shelving clouds and the distant cordilleras ranged down the terminals of the sky to fade from pale to pale of blue and then to nothing at all" (p.59) This is a representation of John Grady's dying childhood. His decision to embark in this journey is partly due to the fact that his relationship with his family was distant; he and his fathers seemed like more like merchants, their talk was nothing but business. John Grady went out in search not only for love of land and beast but also love of people.

The affection for the horse is present from the very beginning: "What he loved in horses was what he loved in men, the blood and the heat of the blood that ran them." (p.6) McCarthy uses blood here once again to create this association with men and beast which later on in the text indicates that there is no difference between the two; humans are horses. The love for Alejandra becomes the true representation of this similarity in which she described more like a horse than a young lady: "She passed five feet away and turned her fineboned face and looked full at him...just the slightest lifting of the long black hair." (p. 109) The blood that ran through her was like that

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The Role of Dreams in Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses Works Cited Missing

Cormac McCarthy All the Pretty Horses depicts the American romanticized view of the west. John Grady, emerging from a dilapidated family ventures out on a journey in pursuit of his dream of the cowboy lifestyle. Through out the novel there is a constant tension between John Grady destiny or fate and the nature of his dreams. Dreams keep the dreamer from reality and because they are unreal, they paralyze the dreamer's reality. Nonetheless, they motivate his journey through Mexico. The different roles that his dreams play depict the different characters that John Grady assumes: the Texas teenager, the lover, the prisoner and the man. John Grady's...show more content...

Grady believes Rawlins was destined to be born to his parents. Yet, his own dreams seek to defy his destiny. John allows his dreams to navigate his journey into the west and transition from his destiny of living as a Texas teenager. John Grady is destined to live his life in Texas, without his family ranch.

Instead, he crafts his destiny in his fantasy dreams of the west.

In contrast to John's newly crafted dreams, Alfonso, Alexandra's aunt, also had dreams that did not become reality. She relates her love story and dream of a future with Gustavo Madero. She eventually concludes: "What is constant in history is greed and foolishness and a love for blood and this is a thing that even God–who knows all that can be known–seems powerless to change" (239). According to Alfonso, dreams are "foolishness". Furthermore, if the all–knowing God can not change destiny then dreams certainly have no role in the crafting of destiny. God's inability to change destiny, further highlights conflict between John Grady's destiny and his aspirations. Through out the novel he makes decisions based on his dreams. Alfonso insinuates the necessity for John to acknowledge the consequences of his actions as a result of his fantasies: "...if it were fate that ruled our houses it could perhaps be flattered or reasoned" (231). The decisions that John makes based on his fantasies affect his destiny.

The first time Grady accepts

Analysis Of All The Pretty Horses

In the Novel "All The Pretty Horses" by author Cormac McCarthy, the book develops the ideas about how imagination affects an individual's willingness to embrace or reject an uncertain future. The people in John Grady's life affect his future in certain ways, the decisions he makes based on the opinions of his peers, to the death of loved ones. John is a unique character in this book, he acts out on what he wants. He never speaks much but he acts a lot, and for john his actions speak louder than words. Such as riding away from San Angelo into mexico. He rode with his friend Rawlins and they do not encounter much trouble, this is when they are truly living the life of the cowboys. For John this shows that he's ready for what's going to come at him. Heading out into mexico with no plan shows us that John is ready to embrace any future that hits him. Whether it hits him like a train or rolls by like a tumbleweed. John Grady will be ready for what comes his way no matter what. Another person in his life who changed the ways John Grady thought was he sick father. His father was a second world war vet. Being in the war gave certain experiences and a certain mind set for his father. These rubbed off on John as he got taught "life lessons." His father was a broken man. "Looks at the world with sunken eyes as if the world out there had been altered or made suspect by what he'd seen of it elsewhere." This quote is from the Narrator of the book, giving us a detailed description of Get

Sentences In All The Pretty Horses

Syntax in All the Pretty Horses varies and has quite an impact on the novel. The sentences are predominately simple, as like most dialogue. However, the descriptions of the setting and other objects in the story are complex. Sentences vary in size from short or long, with rarely medium length sentences. Dialogue tends to be short, with phrases or single sentences. There are long pieces of dialogue. The language used is not very formal. Fragments are used within the story, like on page 161, with just the word, "Dogs." There are some rhetorical questions throughout the novel, such as, "And what did she have to give in return?," with John Grady already knowing the answer. There is some parallel structure in the story, with a person close

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Effective Use of Dialogue in All the Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy, is, among other things, an exploration of its main character, John Grady Cole. The author chooses words carefully and sparingly when creating dialogue for Cole. In doing so, McCarthy creates poetic effects and rich meaning from limited verbiage. This novelist lets his readers get to know his main character largely through dialogue instead of through direct description. In this way, readers find the techniques used by McCarthy similar to those used by Ernest Hemingway in many of his books and short stories. Like the dialogue of Hemingway's protagonists, Cole's speech is sparse, but it is indicative of a great deal of...show more content... The author both foreshadows the major conflict in this novel and gives us a better understanding of Cole's character in just three words when he replies to a comment from his sidekick, Rawlins. Rawlins has failed to win the affection of a girl he likes, and claims that "She ain't worth it," and that "None of em are" (10). John Grady replies simply, "Yes they are" (10). In this line, readers learn several things. Included are the facts that Cole likes women, and that he is willing to endure greater challenges than some men would for love. One can infer from these facts that John Grady is a romantic because of this attitude for Cole, love is worth some suffering. Some readers may also deduce, from these three words, that our protagonist is not afraid to speak his mind in the face of a differing opinion Cole is a character who means what he says and says what he means. These three words presage the coming conflict in this novel which involves his great suffering over his love for a woman. These three words set John Grady up as a romantic or tragic hero.

The long journey south provides us with some time to get to know these horsemen better. Blevins, John Grady, and Rawlins sit around the fire one morning, having just finished breakfast, and we find out some fundamental facts about Cole in just a few words. Rawlins asks his partner–in–crime if he thinks "there'll be a day when the sun won't rise," and Cole responds,

"I knew that what I was seeking to discover was a thing I'd always known. That all courage was a form of constancy. That it was always himself that the coward abandoned first. After this all other betrayals came easily." (Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses) Humans are fallen, they have a tendency to be self centered and for one to take themselves out of their own body and see themselves, in the way they think and process images and words is

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"The Irony of McCarthy's Use of Title" In the novel All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, the author shows how important the roles of the horses are in the story and how they relate to John Grady, the protagonist of the novel. The horse has played an important role in the development of America. It has been a form of transportation, easy muscle, and companionship. In the Wild West, it was an essential resource for a cowboy to do his daily chores. McCarthy describes horses as spiritual and as resembling the human soul; meaning that horses came in many different forms. Horses are pretty, ugly, wild, tame, etc. in the story, they have so many different descriptions and different types of personality that they appear to resemble...show more content...

The horses in the story represent strength, passion, and freedom of spirit. The respect the В‘vaqueros,' Spanish cowboys, have for horses appear many times in the book. A perfect example told by Luis, "The old man only said that it was pointless to speak of there being no horses in the world for God would not permit such a thing" (111). This means that the vaqueros keep horses in such a regard that they see them almost as being godly. Vaqueros help John Grady believe his first notion that humans are like horses because Luis saw how important one is to another. The horses also help support John's notion; that, horses are spiritual beings because of how important they are in a cowboy's life. Cowboys hold horses in the highest regard. They use the horses in many ways. They use them as transport, companions, and to sometimes judge a person's character for example, when John meets Jimmy. Even John dreams that, as "his thoughts were of horses...still wild on the mesa who'd never seen a man afoot and who knew nothing of him or his life yet in whose souls he would come to reside forever" (118). This means that horses were wild and that they had souls. This is important because it shows that horses are innocent and pure. Also, it is important that John dreams about them because he sees them as a Get more content

Death. If one thing is inevitable in life, it is death. Whether figuratively or literally, the conclusion to anything always comes, and whether for the better or the worse, something new always emerges. Cormac McCarthy's All The Pretty Horses starts at that conclusion. The death of protagonist John Grady Cole's grandfather closes one period of his life and as a result a new whole period begins. It explores the new period in his journey throughout Mexico, and it is the one thing that always follows.

In his novel, McCarthy uses death as a moving action for the main protagonist, John Grady Cole. A person whose beliefs and dreams lie in the past generation and not in the his time of 1950's Texas/Mexico, he encounters death frequently...show more content... They are no longer in the peaceful hacienda setting anymore and are instead in a deep hole which they themselves have to dig out of.

Following the murder of Blevins is the scene in the prison where John Grady Cole kills an attacker. That initiates the reveal of John Grady Cole's violent and wild side. Only when he is on his own near the conclusion of the novel and he suddenly knows that his father has died, is it that he is finally "free" of all ties to the modern world.

Therefore it is clear to see the significance that death has in the major plot points of John Grady Cole's journey throughout All The Pretty Horses. It affects every single thing that he goes through whether he likes it or not. It is the moving action within his journey. It is what sets him off. If it was not for death, he would still be in San Angelo, Texas he would have never done numerous things such as meeting Alejandra and Blevins or being in charge of dozens of horses at a time.

In fact, it can be argued that death is not only the moving action within All The Pretty Horses, but also the main antagonist. John Grady Cole begins the novel wanting to stay wherever he is but it always has other plans for him. When talking to Rawlins after the two of them arrive at the hacienda, he even explicitly states that he would like to stay there "about a hundred years" (McCarthy 96). Unbeknownst to him, because of how

Fate In All The Pretty Horses

In life, ones fate is already set. The choices one makes influence everything else in their life. Often, fate throws unexpected situations at you and one must learn how to interpret the reasoning behind it. Many believers in fate think for every bad situation that occurs a positive one will follow. Fate is something that you can't control. All actions whether they may be in the past, present, or future occur because they are meant to. Everything happens for a reason, and everyone handles situations differently. Throughout "All the Pretty Horses," fate plays a significant role: the idea that situations are already determined. The novel revolves heavily around fate and God, which control the destinies of the characters' in the story. As the novel...show more content... She waved her hand. Its not like I don't believe in fate I just don't subscribe to its nomination. If fate is the law than is fate also subject to that law? At some point we cannot escape naming responsibility. It's in our nature. Sometimes I think we are all like that myopic coiner at his press, taking the blind slugs one by one from the tray, all of us bent so jealously at out work, determined that not even chas be outside of our own making" (pg 241). Through this quote, one senses how wise DoГ±a Alfonsa really is which is an interesting point McCarthy makes about her, since she has experienced many things throughout her life. Which also embodies the thought of fate as a whole. Despite how it appears to be unavoidable, it's the responsibility of one and their decisions that determine the course of their Get

All The Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy, follows a trio of teenage boys who are making their way from Texas to Mexico, the hardships they face along the way, and what they encounter once they get there. The dynamic between these, loosely titled friends, is an interesting one that changes throughout the book based on how the characters themselves change. With wildly contrasting personalities but the similar goal, the relationships between the boys are both strained and cordial throughout the novel. John Grady, although being the leader of the pack, is a man of little words and a lot of actions. Like the famous saying goes, opposites attract, this is true for the relationship that John Grady shares with Lacey Rawlins. Rawlins is more of...show more content...

The curious thing is that John Grady genuinely didn't see himself as a leader and I think that is what made him so respectable to his friends and adults a like. His role as leader slowly changed throughout the novel as his relationship with the Rawlins and Blevins changed. The first hit to his position as leader comes when Blevins dies. At the end of the novel when John Grady is speaking with the judge about all the things he felt guilty about he talks about how he feels about the death of Blevins. When he says, "I stood there and let him walk that boy out in the trees and shoot him and I never said nothin," (McCarthy 293) you can see how it affected him and looking back, how it affected his leadership. He feels the guilt, he assumes that as the leader he could've done something, anything, different and saved a life, a life that he felt was in his hands. After taking the hit to his leadership abilities his relationship with Rawlins changed and they became more alike in some ways, and their relationship slowly started unraveling before him. This leads to his softer side of his personality. At the beginning of the novel we have this heroic cowboy figure who can do anything he sets his mind to, the most confident. The second half of the novel we see the more emotional side of him when he loses Alejandra and his Abuela. Whenever Alejandra and himself part for the last time we see John Grady's actions show his Get more content

Theme Of All The Pretty Horses

The influence and impact that the horses make in Cormac McCarthy's novel, All the Pretty Horses, is reflected in the title itself, particularly in their relation to the story's protagonist, John Grady Cole. All the Pretty Horses is a true coming–of–age tale, and while in the most grounded sense the horses are depicted as practical assets to the boys, McCarthy uses a progressively emotional tone to portray the significance the horses have throughout the development of the story. The novel's setting in the heart of Western American culture underlies the horses' importance as the social foundation of the time, and the author's passionate descriptions gives them qualities analogous to that of humans. This sense of anthropomorphism inspires the intimate relationship that John Grady shares with all horses throughout the novel, a bond that ties to his deep understanding of their world. The relationship between men and horses is a central theme that is tested throughout John's journey, as he matures to find that his initial romantic conception of society does not align with the reality of his experiences. McCarthy's use of the title represents the development of this perspective and emphasizes the irony of the protagonist's naivety, as John's preconceived idealism is later refuted by his experiences. The timeframe of All the Pretty Horses, as well as its setting in the Old West, makes horses iconic in the story's culture, and places them at the heart of significance in John

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Character Analysis: All The Pretty Horses

In life people are forced to make decision that can dramatically impact or benefit life as it goes on. John Grady Cole the main character in the book All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy faces situations that would change him. McCarthy makes this character go on a journey that would make him a man based on decisions made by the character. John Grady a young sixteen year old goes out into the western part of Texas with his only partner Rawlins trying to seek freedom. People also have to choose between family or love. John Grady Cole faces this throughout the story with his lover Alejandra. According to Charles he stated that the book has multiple lessons such as,"It becomes a coming–of–age tale, with Cole learning the skills of survival,

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All The Pretty Horses Analysis

In Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses, the concept of understanding sacrifice to establish a greater moral good is central to the main characters and their developed values. Specifically, McCarthy incorporates a great sacrifice of young love made by John Crady Cole's love interest, Alejandra. Alejandra strategically surrenders her promising relationship with John Grady in order to accomplish a greater agenda: bailing him out of jail therefore, assuring the forbiddance of their of their future union. In this instance, the sacrifice of love and union reveals the character's deeper values rooted in moral obligation. This passionate act of love exemplifies Alejandra's strength and selflessness, while also displaying a deeper understanding to the overall meaning of the book by highlighting how valuable friendships and relationships come at a great cost. McCarthy's addition of the compelling connection and strong desire of young love through Alejandra's selfless viewpoint emphasizes her character's determined generosity and noble demeanor. The author effectively conveys Alejandra's value and sacrifice through a conversation between Duena Alfonsa and John Grady Cole stating, "Why did you buy me out of prison? I think you know why. Yes. And what did she have to give in return? I think you know that also. That she won't see me again. Yes." (McCarthy 228–229). John Grady is generously bailed out of jail by Alejandra's grandaunt Alfonsa under the forsaken condition that their

All the Pretty Horses John Grady is not your average cowboy. All the Pretty Horses is not your typical coming–of–age story. This is an honest tale. Cormac McCarthy follows John Grady as he embarks on his journey of self–discovery across the border. Armed with a few pesos in his pocket, a strong horse and a friend at his side, John Grady thinks he's ready to take on the Wild West of Mexico. At their final steps in America, a stranger, aged thirteen, joins our heroes. This unexpected variable named Blevins challenges John Grady, testing his character and pushing him to uncomfortable limits. The dynamic of their relationship reveals John Grady's capacity to care for others as he shelters this kid from the hardships of reality and the...show more content...

These two cowboys have no use for an extraneous kid with a showy horse, and Rawlins makes that clear to him, but they do not deliberately run Blevins off. John Grady recognizes the beginnings of a relationship, and he does not refuse. "We aint seen the last of his skinny ass" (41), he reflects as they continue, abandoning Blevins in the dust. His words are not resentful nor does he appear aggravated. Blevins' eventual inclusion reflects the nonchalant attitude John Grady maintains throughout the beginning of his journey. John Grady assumes the role of leader not on account of his own actions but rather as a reaction to his companion and their surroundings. Rawlins looks at him several times, searching for guidance regarding this strange kid. An optimistic, self–assured outlook washes away the danger surrounding Blevins, giving way to John Grady's passive response. He accepts responsibility because he doesn't decline, consenting to his role as leader by default. In theory, this superficial acknowledgement is rooted in genuine ability, and when the occasion demands, he will be able to perform. If John Grady looks like the leader, then he becomes the leader. But, he is still a child, a boy of sixteen. His premature self–conception as a man inspires too much faith in himself, suggesting confidences and abilities that have yet to develop. As they travel deeper into Mexico, John Grady appears

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Set in 1950s Texas, All The Pretty Horses is the story of John Grady Cole's mesmerizing adventures with romance, betrayal, death and heartbreak in the foreboding land of Mexico. The story begins at his grandfather's funeral. John Grady is 16 years old and his parents have been divorced. He comes from a long line of texan ranchers, however, that legacy will soon end as John Grady's mother is determined to sell the family ranch. Unable to dissuade her, he decides to abandon his home and travel south, across the Mexican border, with his cousin Lacey Rawlins on horseback. They ride for days until they notice a young boy also on horseback trailing them. They attempt to elude him, however, their paths eventually cross. Rawlins confronts the young...show more content...

Much to their astonishment, they find Blevins already imprisoned there. They question Blevins and learn that Blevins shot and killed an officer and realize that the boy is soon going to be executed. They three are transported to Saltillo, where Blevins is taken to a glade and shot. John Grady and Rawlins are then taken to a larger prison in Saltillo. The conditions are brutal, and the boys spend most of their time fighting and suffering various injuries. One day Rawlins is severely injured by an assailant armed with a switchblade. Later John Grady is also attacked in the jail cafeteria where he is eventually forced to stab and kill his attacker to survive. While receiving medical attention, Rawlins and Grady are suddenly released, for they realize an unknown patron has paid their surety and they are free to leave. Rawlins departs for his home in Texas. John Grady realizes that the benefactor must have been Alfonsa, Alejandra's godmother. He realizes Alejandra must have egged Alfonsa to pay his bail probably in exchange for vowing to never see him again. Regardless, he travels back to the hacienda where he discovers that Alejandra has been sent to Mexico City. John Grady confronts Alfonsa, claiming she has no right to separate Alejandra from him. Alfonsa tells him her life story and love she had for a compassionate man who was brutally killed and mutilated by a mob. She tells him that in Mexico,

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