John Grady Cole

John Grady Cole, the novel’s protagonist, who grows up on an East Texas ranch. When his grandfather dies, he decides to seek a life of adventure in Mexico, taming horses and living free. Cole has a strong sense of the dignity of life and of his own integrity. These qualities are strongly challenged when he falls in love with a young Mexican woman; her family forbids him to court her. When he does so anyway, he is hunted down as a criminal, becoming involved in a case of alleged horse theft. Sorely challenged by men who share neither his reverence for life nor his hardy self-reliance, Cole manages to maintain his humanity and to survive largely on his own terms.

Rawlins

Rawlins, Cole’s cousin and close friend. They team up to explore Mexico. Rawlins is something of a cowboy-philosopher, constantly asking Cole his views on the nature of life. Whereas Rawlins is loquacious, Cole is taciturn, exhibiting his ideas in action rather than in dialogue. Rawlins, like Cole, is a young man testing his convictions in an alien environment. Although he does not always agree with Cole, he sticks by his friend, valuing loyalty more than any other virtue.

Blevins

Blevins, a young boy whom Cole and Rawlins meet on the road to Mexico. Rawlins is suspicious of Blevins, who keeps following him and Cole. Cole seems indifferent to Blevins but defends him when Rawlins attacks the boy for various indiscretions and reckless behavior. Both Cole and Rawlins suspect that Blevins is a runaway, and Rawlins is certain that Blevins stole a horse and is on the run. As Blevins’ fate becomes closely tied to that of Cole and Rawlins, Blevins’ hapless behavior becomes Cole’s problem and an index of his tolerance and humanity.

Duena Alfonsa

Duena Alfonsa, the aunt of Alejandra, the young Mexican woman with whom Cole falls in love. Duena Alfonsa admires Cole, whose good manners and respectful demeanor convince her that he will listen to her warning to stay away from Alejandra. Duena Alfonsa confides in Cole her own disappointments, explaining at the same time much of the history of modern Mexico, the efforts to reform it, and the corruption it has not been able to control. Her words are meant to warn Cole that he is dealing with a culture that has no respect for his own principles.

Alejandra

Alejandra, the strong-willed Mexican girl who falls in love with Cole. She realizes that she and Cole are taking a big risk and that her family will never approve of him, even though he has served them faithfully and wants to do the right thing by her. She is powerless to prevent Cole’s conflict with her family, and she is forced to promise not to see him again. Cole endures enormous physical and mental torment, separating him from Alejandra. He braves a return to the Mexican ranch, and she breaks her vow and sees him again, acknowledging his uncompromising pursuit of his love.

The novel's main character, John Grady Cole, is a sixteen-year-old who, at the novel's beginning, faces the death of his grandfather, his mother's father. After this loss, John Grady's mother decides to sell the ranch he had hoped to manage. With his grandfather gone, divorced parents, a father battling cancer, and his dreams slipping away, John Grady feels abandoned and betrayed. With little left to anchor him, he embarks on a journey with Lacey Rawlins to Mexico, dreaming of finding work on a grand ranch they envision as a promised land.

Rather than delving into the...