I just read this for the first time over the summer.
upon finishing, I was immediately struck by the similarity it shared with another American novel concerning a war on reality: Moby Dick.
when we first meet Holden, he shows up almost like the whale himself: enormous, albino, a primeval monster of destruction. as the story progresses, the Judge seems to be akin to Ahab as well: driven by a force to bring all mystery and uncertainty under his control.
at one point in Moby Dick, Ahab explains that it’s the inscrutable nature of the whale that drives his desire for vengeance. Holden seems to be similarly motivated with his 'knowledge/consent' comment about creation.
it seems that this is what sets the Judge after the Kid as you mentioned. the glimmer of goodness and conscious is inscrutable to Holden and therefore intolerable.
(not long ago, I was delighted to read that McCarthy’s favorite book was indeed Moby Dick!)
“He desires to be the Suzerain of the world.” “nothing must be permitted…without his consent.” “But, “man is more than primal rage and Darwinian survival, … a capacity for goodness…and a disgust for hatred.” The affirmed path to moral meaning is to be reminded of the saying, “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
The Judge seems better read as a gnostic aeon – a Loki, a trickster, a pagan devil – designed to sow discord wherever he goes. Best exemplified in his opening scene, when he claims the preacher is an imposter, causing chaos and violence, for no other reason than the joy of seeing it burn. Almost pre-Christian in his origins. His charisma. Charm. His enticing, but baffling and ultimately ludicrous rhetoric. As the old English folk tale goes, "Old Nick [the devil] is a very nice man!"
Richard Slotkin has written a three-volume history, not of the American frontier, but of the MYTH of the American frontier, beginning with Regeneration Through Violence. His thesis, if I understand it correctly, is that the reality of the American founding was so brutal, so violent, that it was necessary to mythologize it—through novels and films—in order to enable the American people to confront it. But McCarthy is having none of this: at least in Blood Meridian, he is saying, forget the myth, here’s the reality, horrific as it is. Only later—I guess starting with All the Pretty Horses, did he relent somewhat. Thank you for a very perceptive essay on Blood Meridian!
I just read this for the first time over the summer.
upon finishing, I was immediately struck by the similarity it shared with another American novel concerning a war on reality: Moby Dick.
when we first meet Holden, he shows up almost like the whale himself: enormous, albino, a primeval monster of destruction. as the story progresses, the Judge seems to be akin to Ahab as well: driven by a force to bring all mystery and uncertainty under his control.
at one point in Moby Dick, Ahab explains that it’s the inscrutable nature of the whale that drives his desire for vengeance. Holden seems to be similarly motivated with his 'knowledge/consent' comment about creation.
it seems that this is what sets the Judge after the Kid as you mentioned. the glimmer of goodness and conscious is inscrutable to Holden and therefore intolerable.
(not long ago, I was delighted to read that McCarthy’s favorite book was indeed Moby Dick!)
Great insight.
“He desires to be the Suzerain of the world.” “nothing must be permitted…without his consent.” “But, “man is more than primal rage and Darwinian survival, … a capacity for goodness…and a disgust for hatred.” The affirmed path to moral meaning is to be reminded of the saying, “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
I like that saying a lot! Indeed the path to moral development begins with our own agency first
Interesting! I might have to add this book to my to-read list.
It’s a great read! I would call it one of, (if not the) Great American Novels
The Judge seems better read as a gnostic aeon – a Loki, a trickster, a pagan devil – designed to sow discord wherever he goes. Best exemplified in his opening scene, when he claims the preacher is an imposter, causing chaos and violence, for no other reason than the joy of seeing it burn. Almost pre-Christian in his origins. His charisma. Charm. His enticing, but baffling and ultimately ludicrous rhetoric. As the old English folk tale goes, "Old Nick [the devil] is a very nice man!"
Richard Slotkin has written a three-volume history, not of the American frontier, but of the MYTH of the American frontier, beginning with Regeneration Through Violence. His thesis, if I understand it correctly, is that the reality of the American founding was so brutal, so violent, that it was necessary to mythologize it—through novels and films—in order to enable the American people to confront it. But McCarthy is having none of this: at least in Blood Meridian, he is saying, forget the myth, here’s the reality, horrific as it is. Only later—I guess starting with All the Pretty Horses, did he relent somewhat. Thank you for a very perceptive essay on Blood Meridian!
Great article. However, one might call into question this interpretation of the novel given its ending. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!