Cormac McCarthy Vs. Madison Smartt Bell: Contrasting Perspectives

"Each scientific discovery increases man's ability to predict the consequences of his actions and thus his ability to control future events," said Lawrence J. Peters.

Such a statement suggests that humans have the power to determine the future. Madison Smartt Bell claims otherwise in his article, "The Man Who Understood Horses," a book review on Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses. Bell asserts that McCarthy's style and voice is from a more divine perspective; in addition, his language seems beyond basic comprehension and hides the deeper meaning. Bell's assertion is strongly grounded because human weakness and disorder pervades the story, which also supports the notion that a higher being is present.

One of Bell's major claims is that McCarthy is operating on a whole different level; he said, "What order there may be... beyond our comprehension (Bell)." This disorder is present throughout the novel and especially in John Grady Cole's life. The lack of order in his life often destroys his hopes and dreams. All of the events prior to his confrontation with Alejandra's aunt on pages 240-241 culminate into the ultimate destruction of his future plans. The future cannot possibly be planned out because of the disorder. He envisioned his discussion with her aunt to progress in a different manner; he was expecting a brief debate or argument. "You wont let me make my case," said John Grady (McCarthy 240). She had no desire to even attempt to listen to his thoughts and feelings. She simply replied with a distinct refusal accompanied by a definite explication. Yet even with the refusal, John Grady was still determined to see Alejandra and win her heart. The most unfortunate event is that despite all his efforts in subsequent scenes, he still loses her. The disorder leads to a further point, humans are weak. John Grady's weakness is shown through his inability to comprehend the Aunt's reasoning of objection to a marriage uniting John Grady and Alejandra. Even the aunt, who is portrayed to have greater knowledge than him, does not know Alejandra will break her promise and secretly see him. All of the individual characters do not possess the power to be all-knowing; they each act based on independent desires and reasoning.

Bell also asserted that there was a higher being; "The deity that presides over...out of the whirlwind." Yet he suggests that even the deity is not "ordinary." This higher being seems to be one that controls the events of the story and Alejandra's aunt is one of the major pawns that this higher power utilizes to maintain order and control all aspects of life. Her deft arguments suggest that she is influenced by another external force that appears to maintain the laws of society and controlling fate. After all, Alejandra comes from a family with "a certain extravagance in the female blood (240). The claim is furthered by the aunt's response to John Grady's cry of injustice, "I know your case. Your case is the... (240)." Her knowledge is also displayed by her remark, "She will not break her word to me. You will see." She seems convicted that Alejandra has completely renounced her love for John Grady, but the only way she could seem so smug and complacent is if she has greater knowledge than him. Finally, she mentions "Yes, We'll see what fate has in store for us, won't we (241)?" When he questions her belief of fate, she replies, "At some point we cannot escape naming responsibility. It's in our nature (241)." She is certainly confident in her words and belief. Furthermore, her voice in the final paragraph of the scene bears some similarity to God's lecture to Job. Both appear to be, in Bell's words, "to make artifacts composed of human language but detached from a human reference point."

In his review, Bell believed that McCarthy was able to write from an almost divine perspective. Bell's conveyed a belief that humans are innately weak and that a higher force is required to protect them from the disorder in the world.