1. All the Pretty Horses
By Cormac McCarthy

2. Theme: Man’s inhumanity to man—This theme implies that human beings are basically cruel to one another, capable of inflicting injury, and even killing one another.
Examples:
Rawlins’ behavior toward Blevins
Brady’s lack of protest over Blevins’ killing
Great-aunt’s treatment of John Grady
Knife attacks in the prison
Cruelties of Mexican authorities against the boys
Killing of Blevins

3. Theme: Initiation of a young person—A naïve youth experiences some crisis through which he gains knowledge.
Naïve: Grady is only 16 an has not been away from home before
Crisis: Blevins’ being killed; cruel treatment in jail, can’t see Alejandra again and parting with her
Knowledge: believes his hardship comes from his having sinned by some action or inaction; must move from childhood environment to an unknown future; being cowboy in Mexico is not an adventure in Eden;

4. Theme: Conformity vs. Nonconformity—Some people live by society’s rules; others march to their own drummers
Nonconformity: Grady and Rawlins leave home
Nonconformity: Blevins’ nonconformity so pronounced that he destroys himself
Conformity: Alejandra’s great-aunt conformed to her father’s wishes and thus became an embittered old woman
Both: Alejandra initially does not conform but eventually conforms to the fathers wishes.

5. Theme: Violence—Humans have an innate attraction to violence because they cannot live in harmony
Examples
Father allows the arrest of John Grady and Rawlins.
The unjust imprisonment of the boys.
Boys witnessing the execution of a friend.
Both boys beaten by convicts and losing dignity.
John Grady seeking vengeance.

6. Characteristics of a Coming of Age Novel
John Grady, the hero, rebels against family
John Grady, the hero, finds love
John Grady, the hero, loses innocence because of the love involvement
John Grady grows into a true hero due to the following:
tried to look after Blevins, became a lover to Alejandra, proved to be a true friend to Rawlins.
Becomes a complete person at the end by achieving wisdom.

7. Picaresque novel—The plot is an episodic journey made up of incidents that would hardly be possible for one individual in such a short time
John Grady as hero is somewhat of a rascal because he barely skirts the law in much of the action. He has the companion who is not as astute as he, and the story is told in vivid detail . Picaresque novels are often satirical; however, this one is not.

8. Importance of the Title
Horses connect the present to the past
Horses connect characters to all conflicts
Horses connect the human beings to nature
Horses create the landscape scenes in the novel
Horses enable the characters to escape danger
Horses make a spiritual connection to the main character
Horses used for work and pleasure in the novel
Horses connect all the characters: J. Grady to his parents, his grandfather, his ancestors, Don Hector, Alejandra, Blevins, Rawlins