The Development of John Grady Cole in Corman McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book The Development of John Grady Cole in Corman McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses' by Lydia Gaukler, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Lydia Gaukler ISBN: 9783638811507
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: April 9, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Lydia Gaukler
ISBN: 9783638811507
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: April 9, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Mannheim, 14 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Cormac McCarthy is one of the most famous contemporary writers in America and is celebrated as one of the major American novelists of his time. However, this has not always been the case. Despite his earlier writings, it was for McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses that he finally became famous for. With the publication of this sixth novel, for which he won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award , he gained widespread recognition as an American writer. All the Pretty Horses was first published in 1992 and is the first part of his Border Trilogy. As Morrison notes most of McCarthy's novels [...] involve both metaphorical and literal journeys which bring their voyagers inevitably into a series of conflicts and confrontations with themselves as well as with the various communities intersected be their wanderings. And, in most of these novels, the central characters' journeys, however random in time and place they may be, are apparently rooted in dysfunctinal families and troubled filial relationships. This also applies to All The Pretty Horses. In this novel, Cormac McCarthy concerns himself with the development of his main protagonist, the 16-year-old John Grady Cole: At the beginning of the novel, McCarthy portrays John Grady as a boy in search for adventure, freedom and a home. During his journey to Mexico however, he soon has to grow up. He has to witness the execution of his compagnion; he is put in jail even though he is innocent; he has to fight with other convicts, and at last he is attacked by a hired killer. He thus has to learn that the world is a dangerous and violent place and that the world portrayed in All The Pretty Horses has nothing to do with an idyllic wild country as the novel's title might suggest. In the end, John Grady has hardened. He has killed a man, he has lost his innocence and he returns as a man and as a hero. In the following, I will first outline the plot of the novel. Then I shall want to concentrate on the development of its main character. Last, I like to discuss whether All the Pretty Horses may be read as a Bildungsroman. I will come to the conclusion that McCarthy's novel is partly a Bildungsroman and partly a Western for several reasons which I shall point out in due course.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Mannheim, 14 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Cormac McCarthy is one of the most famous contemporary writers in America and is celebrated as one of the major American novelists of his time. However, this has not always been the case. Despite his earlier writings, it was for McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses that he finally became famous for. With the publication of this sixth novel, for which he won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award , he gained widespread recognition as an American writer. All the Pretty Horses was first published in 1992 and is the first part of his Border Trilogy. As Morrison notes most of McCarthy's novels [...] involve both metaphorical and literal journeys which bring their voyagers inevitably into a series of conflicts and confrontations with themselves as well as with the various communities intersected be their wanderings. And, in most of these novels, the central characters' journeys, however random in time and place they may be, are apparently rooted in dysfunctinal families and troubled filial relationships. This also applies to All The Pretty Horses. In this novel, Cormac McCarthy concerns himself with the development of his main protagonist, the 16-year-old John Grady Cole: At the beginning of the novel, McCarthy portrays John Grady as a boy in search for adventure, freedom and a home. During his journey to Mexico however, he soon has to grow up. He has to witness the execution of his compagnion; he is put in jail even though he is innocent; he has to fight with other convicts, and at last he is attacked by a hired killer. He thus has to learn that the world is a dangerous and violent place and that the world portrayed in All The Pretty Horses has nothing to do with an idyllic wild country as the novel's title might suggest. In the end, John Grady has hardened. He has killed a man, he has lost his innocence and he returns as a man and as a hero. In the following, I will first outline the plot of the novel. Then I shall want to concentrate on the development of its main character. Last, I like to discuss whether All the Pretty Horses may be read as a Bildungsroman. I will come to the conclusion that McCarthy's novel is partly a Bildungsroman and partly a Western for several reasons which I shall point out in due course.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Verschwörungstheoretische Elemente und die Darstellung von Verschwörung in Oliver Stone's Filmen by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Produkt- und Produzentenhaftung by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Entscheidungen unter Zielkonflikten: Beiträge der Entscheidungstheorie by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Didaktik in historischer Perspektive: by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Allgemeine Grundlagen Brandschutz by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Neue Chancen der Gesundheitswirtschaft - Das Zusammenspiel von Krankenkassen und touristischen Leistungsanbietern auf dem zukunftsträchtigen Gebiet der Prävention by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Wie nutzen Kinder das Internet und insbesondere Kinderwebsites? by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Trainingsplan Fußball - Vom Freizeitkicker zum Profifußballer by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Prozesse, Strukturen und Personal - Neue Konzepte - und dann? by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Augustus - Herrscherkult und Divinisierung by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Ganztagsbildung. Eine geeignete Maßnahme zur Verhütung von Schulverweigerung bei Risikoschülern? by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book 'An der Nordseeküste ...' - Dünen, Watt und Me(e)hr für Naturbegeisterte by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book McDonald's und 'The Plan to Win' by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Versteckte Sozialkritik in Hortelanos 'Tormenta de verano' by Lydia Gaukler
Cover of the book Die britische Entscheidung zum Bau der britischen Atombombe (1947) by Lydia Gaukler
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy