Reading Three (Pages 158-235): Literary Devices and Themes

While I have already addressed aspects of McCarthy’s unique writing style in previous posts I thought that I would now turn my attention to his use of literary devices in my most recent reading. This decision came about primarily as a result of the significance of a variety of devices to the development of many of the book’s larger thematic ideas that have been less directly addressed in my previous readings.

Now that the fast-paced action and killing seen in the book’s earlier chapters seems to have subsided the nature of McCarthy’s writing has clearly grown more reflective and less grounded in Moss’ story. Consequently, McCarthy’s use of metaphorical language has only continued to increase, although especially in regard to how it relates to the topics of pain and death. This point is well evidenced by Chigurh’s descriptions of the bullet wound in his leg as “throbbing like a pump” (page 161) as well as looking “like a snakebite” (163). Thus, through the use of simile McCarthy builds the sense of suffering present in the lives of the book’s characters and evident to mildly disturbed yet dedicated readers like me. However, McCarthy quickly looks to extend his discussion of death beyond the confines of the book’s events by way of his descriptions of the natural landscapes serving as the backdrop to these events. For instance, in order to invoke the image of blood–a substance commonly associated with injury and death mind you–McCarthy chooses to describe a sunset “in the low blue hills before him” as “bleeding slowly away” (170). Therefore, McCarthy utilizes metaphors and similes to convey the integral role that pain and death play in human life.

McCarthy then looks to further his discussion of death and life through the use of dialogue and stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness proves especially important to the reader’s deeper understanding of the book though considering that it is present in the first few pages of each chapter, with the wandering thoughts of Sheriff Bell’s character allowing McCarthy to interrupt the flow of Moss’ story and include commentary of his own. At the very beginning of chapter seven, for instance, Sheriff Bell states that he lost “a whole squad of men. Got decorated for it. They died and I got a medal” (195) while reflecting on his experience fighting in Vietnam. Hence, by showing that Bell’s fellow soldiers were not given medals for making the ultimate sacrifice McCarthy suggest that no reward exists in death. Furthermore, McCarthy employs the use of dialogue during a conversation between Moss and the teenage hitchhiker to indicate the meaningfulness of life when Moss says “you don’t start [life] over. That’s what it’s about. Every step you take is forever” (227). In conclusion, McCarthy uses a variety of literary devices to convey the thematic idea that people should lead fulfilling and meaningful lives in order to avoid having any regrets before they die–an idea that you hopefully notice is well reflected in the quote included in the image above.