Innocence, Setbacks, Redemption—An Analysis Of The Growth Of John Grady In All The Pretty Horses From The Perspective Of Bildungsroman

Cormac Mc Carthy is an American modern writer. All the Pretty Horses(1992),the first novel of the Border Trilogy, made him known to America, and also won him the prize of U.S National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award.Initiation is the basic theme running through All the Pretty Horses. By virtue of close reading, this thesis intends to analyze the growth of John Grady from the perspective of Bildungsroman. It reveals a fact that the youth are not going to gain a better insight of themselves, see through human nature, penetrate the society and become mature until they go through sufferings and the agonies. This thesis will develop demonstration of John Grady’s growth by means of the concept and characteristics of Bildungsroman. First of all, John Grady who insists on being a cowboy that has disappeared into history long ago leaves home resolutely when his parents get divorced and his family ranch is sold, then he naively shows illusive identity of love, occupation and the family in Mexico. In addition, diverse unexpected troubles and tribulations will be encountered, which are on count of his immaturity and improvidence, including his physical torture in the penitentiary and mental conflicts and sufferings that occur when he doubts himself and nature of human beings. Finally, John Grady realizes redemption by retrieving the three horses with the help of positive spiritual guide, Alfonsa. One the way home, he has an epiphany of life and nature of human beings, and achieves spiritual maturity after suffering so much.By probing into the behaviors of Cormac Mc Carthy’s adorable and pathetic protagonist,the thesis reveals that there will be contradictions and conflicts resulting from themselves and outside on the way to growth; and the moment of waking up,they will own a brand new knowledge about everything including themselves. The novel shows Mc Carthy’ deep sympathy and humanistic concern for the growth of young people, which also evidences the enchantment of initiation: a human beings’ eternal theme.