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Blood Meridian summary
Or the Evening Redness in the West
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Brief summary
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy is a dark and violent novel set in the 1850s, depicting the brutal reality of the American West. It follows the journey of a teenage runaway known as "the kid" and the ruthless and enigmatic Judge Holden.
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Blood Meridian
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The kid
Our protagonist, the kid, is born in 1830s Tennessee. He has a rough start to life. His mother dies during childbirth, and his drunkard father neglects him. At age 14, he runs away from home, wandering west.
By then, the kid has already acquired “a taste for mindless violence”. In New Orleans, he takes a room in a tavern, fighting with foreign sailors every night. Only after getting shot in the back by one of them does he decide to move on.
In the Texan town of Nacogdoches, the kid stumbles into a tent where a reverend is delivering a passionate sermon. He’s interrupted when a tall, bald figure enters the tent, claiming to be a man of the law. The man accuses the reverend of having sex with a young girl, as well as a goat. Shocked, the crowd of churchgoers forms a violent mob, attacking the reverend – and the kid takes that as his cue to leave.
Later, the kid runs into the man, who goes by the name of Judge Holden, at a bar. The judge reveals that he doesn’t actually know the reverend, and the men at the bar all break out in laughter.
Outside, the kid gets into a street fight with a guy called Louis Toadvine. Toadvine appears intent on killing the kid, but holds back at the last second. The two agree to stop fighting, and instead gang up on an acquaintance of Toadvine. After brutally beating the stranger in his hotel room, the kid joins Toadvine in setting fire to the place, then flees the scene.
The kid makes his way through Texas on his old mule, begging and stealing. In a town called Bexar, he ends up fighting a Mexican bartender who refuses to serve him. The kid stabs the man’s eyes out with a broken bottle and steals the liquor.
Sleeping off his drunkenness by a river, he’s approached by a recruiter for someone called Captain White. Impressed by the brutal assault on the barkeeper, Captain White wants to enlist the kid for his vigilante army. Although the Mexican-American War has ended, the captain’s gang of filibusters continue to illegally invade Mexico, lured by promises of land, spoils, riches – and senseless violence.
ANALYSIS
These early events establish Blood Meridian’s bleak vision of the Old West as a merciless hellscape. Every man fends for himself, and brutal physical assaults often emerge from minor disputes – or without reason at all. After running away from home to wander this callous world, the kid quickly sheds the last of his innocence, going wherever his taste for violence leads him. He ends up in the arms of Captain White, a racist and imperialist army commander who – against US law – is continuing to wage a private war on Mexico.
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What is Blood Meridian about?
Blood Meridian (1985) tells the gripping tale of “the kid,” a runaway teenager who falls in with several gangs of violent filibusters following the Mexican-American War. Inspired by historical events, the story follows the outlaws as they cut a bloody swath through the desert wilderness, murdering Mexicans, Native Americans, and fellow men alike.
Blood Meridian Review
Blood Meridian (1985) by Cormac McCarthy takes readers on a harrowing journey through the American Southwest in the mid-1800s. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Its unflinching portrayal of violence and the human condition forces readers to confront the dark and unforgiving aspects of the American West.
- With its richly-drawn characters and poetic language, the book explores themes of morality, destiny, and the pursuit of power in a way that is both captivating and thought-provoking.
- The book's gritty realism and its exploration of the human capacity for evil make it an unforgettable and deeply impactful reading experience.
Who should read Blood Meridian?
- People interested in the history and mythology of the American West
- Fans of Westerns, curious about a gripping tale that subverts the genre
- Anyone who appreciates a visceral and intense story
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Blood Meridian FAQs
What is the main message of Blood Meridian?
The main message of Blood Meridian is a dark exploration of humanity's capacity for violence and savagery.
How long does it take to read Blood Meridian?
The reading time for Blood Meridian varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Blood Meridian a good book? Is it worth reading?
Blood Meridian is a compelling read for those fascinated by gritty, atmospheric storytelling and existential themes.
Who is the author of Blood Meridian?
The author of Blood Meridian is Cormac McCarthy.
What to read after Blood Meridian?
If you're wondering what to read next after Blood Meridian, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
- The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
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