Blood Meridian

Themes In American Literature

 

Manifest Destiny Isn’t All That It’s Cracked Up to Be:

People moving to the West for a better life was such a good idea in the 1800’s, right? Wrong. McCarthy specifically created this book to prove to all those people that Manifest Destiny was never a good idea. The amount of lawlessness and violence that occurred in the 1800’s due to this movement created a black and dark episode in the history of America. Many Americans in the past and even today believe that moving West should prove profitable. With its history of gold mines and Hollywood stardom, people are drawn to it , not even considering that it could be dangerous. In the Wild West, there is a sense of godlessness and lawlessness that consumes people, even those who are most innocent.  

 

Human Nature is Always Comprised of Sin:

Now this isn’t necessarily an American theme, but it sure does apply to everyone not only in America but in the world. Depending on your perspective, you could view human nature as inherently good or inherently evil. Inherently evil people like Glanton and the Judge seem bent on destruction. The boy, however, is considered a good being. Although he does kill mindlessly, he does have a soul. When he does not kill a Mexican to fulfill Glanton’s orders, it shows the readers that he does have bad feelings about killing others, and he wants to spare a soul for the greater good of mankind. 

 

Mankind Has a Need to Belong and Associate:

Americans are stuck on this idea that they have to fit in in order to be successful in life. In Blood Meridian, the majority of the book is spent on a gang of misfits who came together to bond a company. Although they don’t always get along, they feel a sense of belonging and duty to the group. The Judge is charismatic and is able to influence those around him. Those who follow him feel secure and correct in their opinions while those who disagree are scorned.