Blood Meridian Interpretation

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Saw a new interpretation of Blood Meridian by McCarthy that made some sense. For those that have read the novel (spoilers -- and I recommend you sit this one out unless you've already read the novel):

Spoiler

The kid isnt murdered/raped by the judge, The little girl is. The entire last chapter is basically the Kid giving in to the Judge and fulfilling his destiny as a sort of successor to the judge. The entire story is the judge slowly extinguishing the light in the kid, which represents his inherent good nature. The kid to his credit fights this to the bitter end, only to reluctantly give in. The judge knew it was a matter of time, and its no coincidence that they meet in a town of sin after the kid spent years wasting away trying to live by the good book. The judge represents the evil in man, that has existed forever and will exist forever, hence his celebration at the end, he will never die. Evil will never die. The men outside the jakes are horrified at what ever remains of the little girl that everyone is looking for. Remember she went missing after the dancing bear was shot. The kid/now man walked out to the jakes and joined the Judge in raping her. The huge embrace is very metaphoric of a proud father congratulating his son after his first accomplishment. Also just prior to this, the Kid tried to have sex with a midget whore in a last effort to satisfy his urges. It didnt work as he couldnt get it up. Any that doubt this reread the last chapter, or book for that matter with this in mind, and itll be clear as day.

[[Syl]]

Interesting. I saw the entire book as McCarthy's response to Moby Dick. Specifically, negating (or perverting) the idea of the universal thump -- and to a lesser extent, squeezing the case (look at Tobin's part about how the Judge had them make gunpowder), and the Try-Pots. Basically, McCarthy has a huge mancrush on Melville (who doesn't?), but thinks his response to the sublime is overly optimistic.

[I'm Murrin]

Interesting. I might reread the end again later to see if it feels right that way. I did find it a bit... odd at the time.

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

The end has always bothered me. Ok, the whole novel has always bothered me, but the end really bothered me. And Syl, I get that whole crushing pessimism you are alluding to, in fact that was my primary experience of the novel. Just how horrible people were/still are, and the fact that I could not disavow the novel. Because it is manifestly genuine, even without knowing that it was based in historical fact. I think the main irony of it all was that the pathos of the bear's fate was what finally pushed me over the edge emotionally, rather than plain ol' sympathy for my fellow humans, who had been remorselessly murdered (and worse) by the bushel for hundreds of pages. Perhaps that was because the bear's innocent pathos was a metaphor for our own existential helplessness. It does not understand why it has been chosen to suffer, it just knows that it is suffering.

It still breaks my heart even in remembrance.