Analysis Of A Chapter From 'The Manburner'

In Part Two: “The Manburner”, chapter 7 of McMurtry’s Streets of Laredo, Lorena describes her fateful experience with Mox Mox as a captive to Goodnight. Goodnight tells her that Mox Mox, who they believed had been killed years before, had actually been hiding at sea and now has returned. Goodnight believes Mox Mox is alive because there is someone burning people in New Mexico, which is distinctive to his own personal M.O. Hearing the news from him made her apprehensive to the point where “she felt as if she might strangle” (221). Despite the fear that filled her, she told Goodnight her traumatic experience and the events that unfolded while she was a captive of Blue Duck. The passage that stood out to me is the following: “He wanted to burn

me. He piled brush all around me and he poured whiskey on me. He said that would make me burn longer. He said it would make it hurt worse.

He rubbed grease in my eyes. He said that would be the worst, when my eyes fried. He poured whiskey on me and he rubbed that grease in my eyes” (221). She had nearly been burnt by Mox Mox, however, had not been because of Blue Duck who wanted to use her to bait Gus. So, Mox Mox burned the little boy in her stead. This passage stood out to me because her experience was so traumatic and frightening, yet she still wants to be the one to find her husband and bring him back home. That takes an immense amount of strength because what she experienced was something so horrible and so terrible. She says, “Besides, he won’t mind anybody but me, unless it’s the Captain. I’m going to go find him, and he’s going to mind me, particularly now” (229). Despite the fear she felt and how dangerous the expedition will be, she does not go to Clara with her children to receive some sort of protection. Instead, she decides to take matters into her own hand and save Pete herself by warning him of Mox Mox. I found her honor, loyalty, and courage to be admirable. She did not want anyone to get hurt or killed for her in the process. Instead of taking on a traditional role of damsel in distress, she decides to go save him instead because she does not need a protector or

provider. She is neither powerless nor trembling in fear, but empowered by the ordeal. With just a gun and a horse by herself, she emerges in the midst as a heroine.
Another reason why this passage stood out to me is because it just shows how strong she is. When I read further on in the story, I was able to see how people regarded Mox Mox and the common sentiments people had. Essentially, he penetrates fear through practically everyone. I found it interesting how some people call Mox Mox “The-Snake-You-Do-Not-See,” which is similar to what people call Voldemort in Harry Potter, which is “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” Mox Mox’s name bespeaks an explicable evil to the point where his name should not be spoken aloud. They aren’t just afraid of Mox Mox; the name suffices in causing fear to arise. This just shows how strong she is because even though everyone, herself included, is afraid of him, she is not letting it get to her. She is not letting the fear control her, but instead is taking matters into her own hands.
The last reason why I found this passage to be striking is that Lorena and Maria reacted in a similar way after experiencing adversary. Lorena and Maria both experienced something immensely traumatic, but still possessed great strength to embark on their own journeys. They both felt compelled to warn their loved ones and attempt to bring them back, which indicates that they feel some sort of responsibility or duty based on loyalty. After reading this passage, I could not help but wonder, will Lorena and Maria ever cross each other? I think it would be extremely interesting to see what their meeting would entail and what will occur because they are both similar in personality and mentality.