Week Five: Reading the Great American Novel

“They tell me you are a man with true grit.” – Mattie Ross

            True Grit is considered to be one of the “Greatest American Novels”, and I can see why- it is very American. The novel is made up of the values of America during that time. The storyline itself, and how it is told shows the culture and demonstrates American values.

            In the story, Mattie Ross is an old woman in 1928, and is describing her adventure she had at the age of fourteen. After her father is wrongfully killed, Mattie is determined to seek justice and goes after the killer. To do so, she needs the help of a man with “true grit.” The values that make up the definition of “true grit” capture the spirit of the American mid-west. Mattie is determined throughout the entire book. She does not take no for an answer, and she continues forth on the journey. She is after the man, Tom Chaney, and has help from two men, Rooster and LaBoeuf, to find him. Rooster is doing it for the money and LaBoeuf is doing it because he has been after Chaney for a few months for killing other people. Together, they join forces to go after Chaney. At first, the two men try to get Mattie to not follow them on their adventure. They say she is just a child, but it’s also because of gender discrimination, but Mattie deals with that throughout the book. An example of this is when a man said to her “I thought you were just a floating hat.” This is just a part of their culture during this time period. But in the end, Mattie and the two men succeed in getting Chaney. Mattie makes it out alive – stronger and tougher, but minus one arm. In one of the final “scenes,” Rooster saves Mattie after a snake bites her. Rooster and her ride on her horse until the horse literally dies.  They eventually find a doctor and she lives. The story ends with many years have passed. Mattie is going to visit Rooster. She hears that he is dead, and passed away recently so she gets his coffin relocated to her family grave plot. She sees him as an honorable man. He is the archetypal “western hero.” This story completely captures the American mythology, and the values of that time period. The story, to narrow it down, is an example of “good vs. evil.” Much like a true western.

            Because it is a period piece, I very much felt that old west language while reading. Part of the culture and identity of that part of America during that time was the way people spoke with their slang and abbreviations. The language of the novel makes it all the more pleasurable to read. Some of my favorite examples of this are the people’s names – “Rooster” Cogburn and “Moon,” the boy. And lastly, the best example, the word grit, meaning determination, toughness, and doing what is right. That is the primary example of the values in the story.

            True Grit is a true Western classic.