NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Cormac McCarthy
If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?
Cormac McCarthy
Setting
Major Characters
Bell is the main protagonist in the novel and is the sheriff of Sanderson, Texas, where him and Llewellyn Moss both live. He is married to Loretta Bell and was also a war veteran. He is the most crucial character in this novel because he is the meaning behind the title, No Country for Old Men. Bell is unable to cope with the modern world as he believes the world is beginning to become more violent and that it should remain the same as it did when he was younger.
Llewelyn Moss
Chigurh is the antagonist in the novel who tries to search for Moss and the money. He is a pure evil hitman who does whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if that means killing people. He has no remorse or compassion and occasionally lets his victim's fates be decided by a coin toss. His twisted set of morals is what depicts him as an unstoppable, ruthless man. Chigurh's signature weapon is a captive bolt pistol which he uses to both kill victims and to destroy locks on doors.
No Country for Old Men
The title of this novel refers to the idea that modern society has taken over and old value systems no longer apply. Sheriff Bell represents the "old-timer" while Anton Chigurh is the representation of the new, violent generation that Bell cannot cope with. Bell represents a symbol of old tradition when he constantly expresses his thoughts about how times have changed and how he wants no part of the modern world. He also explains how some of the old time sheriffs never wore a gun. This proves how different their world is now from when Bell was first the sheriff of the county. By the end of the novel, Bell decides to retire from his job in law enforcement because he doesn't want to have any part in the unstoppable violence and reformed morals.