Categories
Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA (McCarthy, pp. 139-179)

Pages 139-179 of All the Pretty Horses contain a lot of unfolding action that develops the plot much further. John Grady Cole has been chasing Alejandra in a pursuit of passion that he felt in prior relations. John’s only issue is that Don Hector found out about his relations with Alejandra, and now is plotting revenge against John Grady Cole. John Grady Cole and Rawlins are left on edge as one day, a group of Mexican soldiers comes to the ranch to inquire about them, but left. A few days later, their suspicions are confirmed as the Mexican soldiers return and take John Grady Cole and Rawlins away in chains. The men are taken to a prison in which they discover Blevins is also there when they enter a dark room and he calls out to them. Rawlins and John are interrogated at the prison, and the man interrogating them accuses them of being imposters and criminals who came to Mexico to rob and kill. This idea probably stems from the fact that Blevins returned to Encantada to retrieve his gun, and ended up killing a man. Rawlins has a rough interrogation and so does John Grady Cole, but they proclaim their innocence. This begins a narrative that they follow in which they stand their ground and do not give into pressure. The men begin to think about the possibility of Blevins being killed for his wrongdoings, and Blevins chimes in and chastises them for not putting in a good word for him. This creates tension and Rawlins begins to go after Blevins with his words, almost making him cry. Eventually, the men are taken out of Encantada, and on their way to a new prison, Blevins is executed. John Grady Cole and Rawlins are taken to the Saltillo prison, and put into a new cell. The prison guard assumes they are rich Americans, and says to them “You are not the first Americans to be here” (p.180), and further implies that he is seeking a bribe. John Grady tells the guard “We don’t have any money…we aint fixin to make any arrangements” (p.180). Grady further develops this narrative where he will stand his ground, and not give into something outside his ideals. Grady does not try to please the guards, he accepts his fate that his life may be over, but he is not going to a pay a bribe when he feels he did nothing wrong. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *