All the Pretty Horses Illuminator-Shaun Ditzler
“He stood and touched the brim of his hat and turned and went on up the street. He didn’t look back but he could see her in the windows of the Federal Building across the street standing there and she was still there when he reached the corner and stepped out of the glass forever.”
This is the last scene of John Grady Cole before he departs towards Mexico with his friend Lacey Rawlins. I think that it gives a good view of the kind of person he is; we already know from the conversations he has had so far that he is quiet, unsociable, and almost emotionless. This is a perfect example of his personality. He is talking to his ex-girlfriend Mary Catherine Barnett before his departure. Their conversation sounds awkward and a little forced, but so do most of them at this point. As he turns around and leaves, he does not look back and shows no sadness or regret whatsoever as he leaves. I think that this is an important scene because it reminds me of a cowboy walking away into the sunset and leaving everything behind, which seems to be a major theme in this story.
“This is how it was with the old waddies, aint it?”
“Yeah”
“How long do you think you’d like to stay here?”
“About a hundred years. Go to sleep”
This short exerpt from a conversation between John Grady and Rawlins reveals more about the protagonist, as well. First of all, it expands on his emotionless attitude and dislike for discussing things about himself. It is also one of the many examples of his love for being a cowboy, or a “waddie”, as Rawlins puts it. He enjoys the sound of cattle, the open country, and sleeping under the stars. If you had to describe a cowboy, John Grady would fit the description perfectly. However, the year in the novel is 1950 and cowboys are beginning to have a much less important role in western culture. Grady does not want to accept this and so he decides to travel south where he can continue to experience this lifestyle. So it seems that the plot of the novel is him trying to persue being a cowboy. Considering this, what is your prediction of his success? Do you think John Grady will find his dream and live the life of a cowboy, herding cattle and traveling the western land on horseback, or do you think that his real triumph will end up being something he gains along the way, such as a certain wisdom or perhaps love? Finally, which do you think is more important; reaching your dreams, or what you gain along the way? What do you think John Grady’s opinion is?
P.S.
I would like to inform a certain english teacher of mine about the absolute and unreasonable due date set on these blogs. I am a busy, dedicated person who has many many things to do on friday nights. I am involved in the very prestigous and tiring sport of track and field here at Cedar Crest High School, and when i return home from a hard practice at 7 O’clock at night, i do not enjoy having the responsibility upon my shoulders of posting a blog by friday night instead of the convenient time of saturday morning. Please be aware that this is not a complaint, but a simple recomendation. Perhaps if you extended the due date of these posting to their standard time of saturday at noon, you would see a vast improvement in their quality. This is a proposition that i would like you to seriously consider.
Sincerely, Shaun H. Ditzler
Category: Uncategorized 4 comments »
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Whooo Baby! Good Blog…and nice lettler.
Well when I was talking to the person who recomended this book for us to use, he said that it was about a boy whose grandfather just died, and he was setting of to go to mexico o horseback with a friend. And then he said, that is all I can tell you. I think he mentioned something about the ex-girl friend to. Anyway, I don’t think that he is going to become a cowboy. I think that he is going to gain something. I GOT IT! My prediction:
I think that John Grady Cole will meet someone and then this someone is going to be someone that he is somehow related too. This mystery person is going to be able to get his grandfather’s ranch back and give it to John Grady Cole. I also think that he is going to find a sexy babe too. That is my prediction.
I think that the most important thing is reaching your dreams. If you gain something on the way of getting your dreams, GREAT! But, I don’t think that you should make a dream that you know you won’t be able to achieve, just so you can gain somethings along the way. I am confusing myself. My point is though, that achieving your dreams is more important because obviously it is something that you want to do. With me?
As for John Grady, I think that he thinks the same thing. Becuase as far as we know he wants to become a couwboy. And so far it is looking alright.
-Abbey Stefanides
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Nice post Shaun……
My prediction is that yes he will become a cowboy. But he won’t be in Mexico when it happens. I think that Abbey is right and he will meet a long lost relative some way or somehow that is going to buy the ranch to keep it in the Family.
However I don’t think that he will meet a girl and fall in love. I think that he will come home and he and his ex will get back together because they will see that they missed eachother through this whole ordeal or she will go looking for him in Mexico because she cannot stand being alone.
I also think that it is more important to follow your dreams. As a child everyone tells you that when you have a dream you need to pursue it and become what you want. My grandpa always tells me that he believes that god put us on this earth to see how hard we work to reach our goals/dreams.
-Kody
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
True dat kody! wooh. I love your grandpa!
-Abbey
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Very nice Shaun…very long
Personally Shank, I’ll take either Firday or Saturday. I get back from swim practice with like 30 minutes left to post my blog anyway so it doesn’t really matter.
John left home to get away from all the change going on in his life. I believe he will become a cowboy, but will have more incidents like when Rawlins’ horse gets stolen and he will realize that living at home, despite the changes, isn’t that bad after all.
He probably will gain a lot from this trip, not necessarily love or wisdom, but he’ll gain something that will prove beneficial later on in his life.
I’m going to contrast to Abbey and Kody and say it’s the journey, not the destination that is important. It’s a sad truth but, you may not always reach your goals. But it’s more important that you tried to reach them than not trying to reach them at all. What you learn from your experience can help you try and reach a new dream, a dream that is possibly more ambitious than your previous one.
-Paula