All the Pretty Horses | Themes

All the Pretty Horses Themes

Coming of Age

Young John Grady Cole is only sixteen years of age when he leaves the only home he has ever known. All the Pretty Horses is the tale of this young man's coming of age. As a young man enters adulthood, there are moments when a parent might question the sanity of having had a child and other moments when that same parent experiences the thrill of victory as the child succeeds. A teenager's first kiss, first love, the thrill of victory in competitive sports, the bonding of lifetime friends, and even a high school graduation are the moments most remembered, as adulthood approaches. For Cole, little of this is experienced in the comfort of familiar surroundings or with the support of family. There will be no high school graduation for Cole. He leaves school behind when he sets out accompanied by his closest friend, Lacey Rawlins, looking for purpose and...
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