Abstract
Abstract This article engages debate on how Cormac McCarthy's novel No Country for Old Men (2005) grapples with what it means to live a life of courage in the face of existential threats by exploring the motives behind key moral choices made by main characters Anton Chigurh and Ed Tom Bell. With support from Paul Tillich's 1952 book The Courage to Be, the article finds that the primary intention behind these characters' choices is to protect themselves against the existential anxiety of self-condemnation. This reading contests notions that Chigurh either has no sense of moral responsibility or aims to evade it, and that Bell's story is one of moral cowardice to the end, concluding that the author's vision meets challenges presented by overwhelming external forces rather than resigning to them. These results may serve future research about self-affirmation in McCarthy's work.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
