You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Therefore, according to Goodmama, the first one “better be good.” My first impression of John Grady Cole is definitely a good one. He seems to have his priorities set, even though he hasn’t exactly planned out the rest of his life. We see from the very beginning of All the Pretty Horses that John Grady Cole values the ranch life that he lives. He looks out over the ranch where the “red wind blew out of the west” (5). I can see that he loves the ranch because he isolates himself there in a time of grief. (after his father’s funeral) I can also see that he values the ranch from the fact that he asks the owner: “why couldnt you lease me the ranch?”, even though he is only sixteen (15). He feels a connection to the ranch, and therefore feels prepared to own and operate it. This event also displays John Grady Cole’s sense of determination. Even when he is told that he cannot have the ranch, he consults a lawyer to see if there is any way that would be entitled to own the property.
I can also see that John Grady Cole is a thinker, and is usually a very quiet young man. He has the ability to out-think his cousin: Rawlins. The two boys argue over whether or not Rawlins would have been born if his parents had never met (26-27). Even though their discussion is brief, John Grady Cole has the ability to convince Rawlins that he is right by applying his well-thought-out logic. Their argument doesn’t really have anything to do with the plot of the novel (so far at least), but serves to reveal a little bit of who John Grady Cole really is.
As the novel progresses, Cormac McCarthy shows us that John Grady Cole holds true to his values and love of the west (ranch), even though he is running away from everything that is making his life complicated. There is no “reason for stayin”, so he and Rawlins flee for Mexico (27). Even though two teenagers running away to Mexico sounds like a REALLY bad idea, John Grady Cole and Rawlins conduct themselves in a very mature manner. They take care of both themselves and their horses very well, and nothing bad has happen on their journey….yet.
