| This thesis analyzes Cormac McCarthy's existential consciousness in his Border Trilogy consisting of All the Pretty Horses,The Crossing,and Cities of the Plain,arguing that to McCarthy: though living in an absurd world,humans can bravely find the meaning of their life through free choices.In the Border Trilogy,God is callous and the world is glutted with violence and wars.Facing the decline of the pastoral way of life,young cowboys John Grady and Billy Parham experience their existence through alienation and anxiety,but they remain true to themselves,pursue their freedom,and realize their value on the way of chasing their dreams.The thesis discusses the absurdity of the world in the Border Trilogy.McCarthy claims that instead of a savior,God functions as an indifferent spectator,even if it exists.Deaf to the sufferings of his followers,God is not worshiped by human beings gradually.The collapsed or deserted churches imply that people do not regard churches as sacred places any more.In the meantime,extreme violence and brutal wars constantly destroy human life and will.The thesis explores the protagonists' mental dilemmas.Confronted with the separation of families and the decline of pastoral lifestyle,young cowboys inevitably suffer from alienation—the loss of the discourse power and their identities,and their estrangement from society.Meanwhile the gratuitous violence and the nostalgic visions reveal their anxiety and perplexities.The thesis analyzes the protagonists' awareness of authenticity and their pursuit of it.In the Border Trilogy,with the pastoral way of life fading away,cowboys ride south to Mexico hoping to find the ideal ranch life there.Beset with difficulties,they follow their hearts,and do not compromise with the common views.Though failed to find the ideal pastoral life,the morality John Grady and Billy express—their loyalty to friends,their affinity with nature,and their heroic spirit—defend the dignity of themselves and realize the value of their life. |
PDF Full Text Request