Research Paper On No Country For Old Men

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Cormac McCarthy’s novel, No Country for Old Men, explores the new reality of America as seen by Ed Tom Bell. Bell is a sheriff of Terrell County, Texas who struggles with accepting the changes of the ever-evolving landscape of American society. The story begins when a veteran, Llewelyn Moss, becomes involved with cartels located in his town during the 1980s. After he flees his home, he creates a ripple of chaos, including murder and theft. Sheriff Bell feels a moral responsibility for letting things get out of hand so he follows up on the case, even traveling hours away to investigate, ultimately leading to his failure in the case and his retirement. Throughout the novel, Bell expresses his desire for America to return to its state of simplicity. …show more content…

Sheriff Bell is further enlightened by this while interacting with his uncle Ellis, a retired sheriff who has pride in his country, but nonetheless selected policing as an outlet after he could not join the war. Overall, Sheriff Bell’s reflections on morality tell his own tale and show the lessons he has been taught from his time, however, as time rushes forward, he remarks on the sudden depletion of America’s principles. In No Country for Old Men, Sheriff Bell discovers the change in his sheriff duties since when he first became a sheriff, the same as his grandfather at the time. From that moment, it is clear that his job requires more now, than it did in the past. This upscaling causes indecision for Sheriff Bell, leaving him clueless on any tactic to take down the ruthless Chigurh and the cartels that follow; Sheriff Bell states, “I aint sure we’ve seen these people [Drugrunners] before. Their kind of a. I don't know what to do about em.

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