- Forum Clout
- 46,656
Not sure if this is suitable for lit crit but it IS discussing a book. In the novel a major theme is the inevitability of fate. Chigurh sees himself as an instrument of that fate, A ruthless, unstoppable force.
"Every moment in your life is a turning and every one a choosing. Somewhere you made a choice. All followed to this. The accounting is scrupulous. The shape is drawn. No line can be erased. I had no believe in your ability to move a coin to your bidding. How could you? A Person’s path through the world seldom changes and even more seldom will it change abruptly. And the shape of your path was visible from the beginning."
PAt chose the instrument of his destruction (more accurately self destruction) with his decisions to the point re food, behavior etc.
As Carson describes him:
"These are not good odds. He’s a peculiar man. You could even say that he has principals. Principals that transcend money or drugs or anything like that."
And in Chigurh's own words: You’ve been giving up things for years to get here. I dont think I even understood that. How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life? We’re in the same line of work. Up to a point. Did you hold me in such contempt? Why would you do that? How did you let yourself get in this situation?
This shows his belief that ones actions and choices lead a person to their fate. Our fair Patso didn't get targeted initially for being a deadbeat dad, or a failed writer, but all the shitty choices he made, including antagonizing the forums, led him to his current predicament. He long ago choice to be a stubborn pigheaded jerkoff which increased the odds to near certainly he would eventually run afoul of us, or someone else. Further, in his words
"Not everyone is suited to this line of work. The prospect of outsized profits leads people to exaggerate their own capabilities. In their minds. They pretend to themselves that they are in control of events where perhaps they are not. And it is always one’s stance upon uncertain ground that invites the attentions of one’s enemies. Or discourages it."
This applies to fat in humorously literal ways, like "giving things up" in ones life, but again, Patrick drew the attention of potential enemies with his own behavior, puffing himself as if he were invincible. Again he made a choice that made it his fate to get screwed with.
"Chigurh thought it an odd oversight but he knew that fear of an enemy can often blind men to other hazards, not least the shape which they themselves make in the world."
Again Patrick focused so obsessively upon his enemies and trolls, that he created a life of misery for himself, where even friends, family and acquaintances find him tiresome. He believes so strongly in his rightness he's done more harm to himself than we ever could. But his self righteousness has blinded him to this, as his zealous adherence to his principles put him where he is. And to close a final quote.
"If the rule you followed led you to this of what use was the rule?"
..and he's fat.
"Every moment in your life is a turning and every one a choosing. Somewhere you made a choice. All followed to this. The accounting is scrupulous. The shape is drawn. No line can be erased. I had no believe in your ability to move a coin to your bidding. How could you? A Person’s path through the world seldom changes and even more seldom will it change abruptly. And the shape of your path was visible from the beginning."
PAt chose the instrument of his destruction (more accurately self destruction) with his decisions to the point re food, behavior etc.
As Carson describes him:
"These are not good odds. He’s a peculiar man. You could even say that he has principals. Principals that transcend money or drugs or anything like that."
And in Chigurh's own words: You’ve been giving up things for years to get here. I dont think I even understood that. How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life? We’re in the same line of work. Up to a point. Did you hold me in such contempt? Why would you do that? How did you let yourself get in this situation?
This shows his belief that ones actions and choices lead a person to their fate. Our fair Patso didn't get targeted initially for being a deadbeat dad, or a failed writer, but all the shitty choices he made, including antagonizing the forums, led him to his current predicament. He long ago choice to be a stubborn pigheaded jerkoff which increased the odds to near certainly he would eventually run afoul of us, or someone else. Further, in his words
"Not everyone is suited to this line of work. The prospect of outsized profits leads people to exaggerate their own capabilities. In their minds. They pretend to themselves that they are in control of events where perhaps they are not. And it is always one’s stance upon uncertain ground that invites the attentions of one’s enemies. Or discourages it."
This applies to fat in humorously literal ways, like "giving things up" in ones life, but again, Patrick drew the attention of potential enemies with his own behavior, puffing himself as if he were invincible. Again he made a choice that made it his fate to get screwed with.
"Chigurh thought it an odd oversight but he knew that fear of an enemy can often blind men to other hazards, not least the shape which they themselves make in the world."
Again Patrick focused so obsessively upon his enemies and trolls, that he created a life of misery for himself, where even friends, family and acquaintances find him tiresome. He believes so strongly in his rightness he's done more harm to himself than we ever could. But his self righteousness has blinded him to this, as his zealous adherence to his principles put him where he is. And to close a final quote.
"If the rule you followed led you to this of what use was the rule?"
..and he's fat.
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