John’s Journey The main character in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is John Grady Cole, a sixteen year-old runaway cowboy. John Grady is not the typical teenager of the time period of the novel which happens to be nineteen forty-nine. John Grady sees himself as a cowboy who does not need unnecessary technology like cars when you have horses. The world is modernizing and, cowboys are gradually disappearing. John Grady feels out of place at the beginning of the novel because he does not understand why the world is changing nor is he willing to accept the change. The relationship between John Grady and his parents (especially his mother) only furthermore illustrates John Grady’s desire to run away to a new and mysterious land. John Grady did not go on this journey alone his best friend, Lacey Rawlins, accompanied him. Both characters are looking for a way of escape from their dull existence so they take the first opportunity to leave everything behind in search of paradise. John Grady’s journey is one that leads him on a path to find contentment within himself as well as a place where he feels he belongs. The journey begins with the adventure of John Grady and his best friend Lacey Rawlins.
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The boys are traveling on horseback at a time when cars are pretty common. This is another example of how John Grady and Rawlins are unwilling to give up the dying past. At the start of their journey, the boys are having a fairly decent time. In a way it just seems as if they are two buddies on a laid back trip. In order to get to Mexico from Texas the boys have to cross the Rio Grande. McCarthy writes, “They crossed the river under a white quartermoon naked and pale and thin atop their horses” (McCarthy 45). The passage of the Rio Grande into Mexico is a decisive structural tool and symbol in the story. When the get to Mexico this is where they enter the realm of the novel in which all the conflicts take place. The boys’ passage of the river naked is symbolic for the cleansing of their souls as well as a new beginning in a new setting. Then they come across Blevins, a young boy trying to pass himself off as older accompanied by a beautiful horse. Blevins just so happens to steer the boys off the path of their journey. Foster states, “The real reason for a quest is always self-knowledge” (Foster 3). The journey brings out the true nature of the boys and gives insight into both of their characters. Throughout the journey, the boys’ true nature comes out. When Blevins got into a bit of a pickle when his horse ran off, John Grady felt the right thing to do would be to help Blevins while Rawlins felt they should leave him behind. Due to John Grady’s kindness and sense of morality, he gets into trouble later on in the novel. Rawlins explains how he would have left Blevins if I was no for Grady, “If it wasn’t for this man I wouldnt be here at all. I’d of left your ass back up in that arroyo” (McCarthy 80). McCarthy put Blevins in the path of the boys’ journey to get them off their original course to find the perfect paradise. So when they come across a ranch that basically answers their prayers the boys settle down there think that it would become there new paradise. John and Rawlins had a conversation about the ranch, “Rawlins: How long do you think you’d like to stay here? John: About a hundred years. Go to sleep” (McCarthy 96). The ranch is where John is doing what he loves to do. He is in close contact with nature, his horse, and living the way he wants to live. The horses that he is surrounded by are symbols for nature as well as a connection to the past. As for Grady’s relationship with Alejandra, he is clearly a good-hearted individual who is capable of building connections and feeling true love for someone. He falls head over heels for Alejandra which in turn leads to a horrible consequences when the affair is discovered by Alejandra’ father, who gets Grady and Rawlins thrown in jail. This outcome leads to a struggle
The boys are traveling on horseback at a time when cars are pretty common. This is another example of how John Grady and Rawlins are unwilling to give up the dying past. At the start of their journey, the boys are having a fairly decent time. In a way it just seems as if they are two buddies on a laid back trip. In order to get to Mexico from Texas the boys have to cross the Rio Grande. McCarthy writes, “They crossed the river under a white quartermoon naked and pale and thin atop their horses” (McCarthy 45). The passage of the Rio Grande into Mexico is a decisive structural tool and symbol in the story. When the get to Mexico this is where they enter the realm of the novel in which all the conflicts take place. The boys’ passage of the river naked is symbolic for the cleansing of their souls as well as a new beginning in a new setting. Then they come across Blevins, a young boy trying to pass himself off as older accompanied by a beautiful horse. Blevins just so happens to steer the boys off the path of their journey. Foster states, “The real reason for a quest is always self-knowledge” (Foster 3). The journey brings out the true nature of the boys and gives insight into both of their characters. Throughout the journey, the boys’ true nature comes out. When Blevins got into a bit of a pickle when his horse ran off, John Grady felt the right thing to do would be to help Blevins while Rawlins felt they should leave him behind. Due to John Grady’s kindness and sense of morality, he gets into trouble later on in the novel. Rawlins explains how he would have left Blevins if I was no for Grady, “If it wasn’t for this man I wouldnt be here at all. I’d of left your ass back up in that arroyo” (McCarthy 80). McCarthy put Blevins in the path of the boys’ journey to get them off their original course to find the perfect paradise. So when they come across a ranch that basically answers their prayers the boys settle down there think that it would become there new paradise. John and Rawlins had a conversation about the ranch, “Rawlins: How long do you think you’d like to stay here? John: About a hundred years. Go to sleep” (McCarthy 96). The ranch is where John is doing what he loves to do. He is in close contact with nature, his horse, and living the way he wants to live. The horses that he is surrounded by are symbols for nature as well as a connection to the past. As for Grady’s relationship with Alejandra, he is clearly a good-hearted individual who is capable of building connections and feeling true love for someone. He falls head over heels for Alejandra which in turn leads to a horrible consequences when the affair is discovered by Alejandra’ father, who gets Grady and Rawlins thrown in jail. This outcome leads to a struggle