ERA #2, All the Pretty Horses Chapter 1

In Cormac McCarthy’s ‘All the Pretty Horses’, the opening chapter includes much discussion about negative themes; despite this, some positives do hold true. Most notably, there is an optimistic vibe in the friendship formed between John Grady and Rawlins. The two hold many of the same characteristics in terms of family issues; thus, they are complements of one another. John Grady comes off as the smarter and sharper of the two. While seeking work as cowboys deep into Mexico, the pair has been described by locals as ‘caballero’. Caballero is basically another term for a cowboy, but one of whom is very well respected. In comparison to American and Mexican culture, caballero and cowboy both represent ideologies of heroism and being gentleman-like. On the flip side of this, being labeled with the title of a cowboy in America can have the potential to entail a negative connotation. Often times, American cowboys can be seen as overly aggressive and disrespectful to animals. In contrast, the Mexican or Spanish meaning of caballero includes optimistic and well-respected characteristics. Upon their arrival to a foreign destination, John Grady and Rawlins are given immediate respect by the vaquero’s because they received the label of caballero. The various interpretations of the word cowboy depend on the culture and community that an individual derives from. Primarily due to their background, the local Mexicans offered a strong sense of admiration to John Grady and Rawlins. In spite of this, John Grady’s character develops as he begins to become more mature.