Books lie, he said.God dont lie.No, said the judge. He does not. And these are his words.He held up a chunk of rock.He speaks in stones and trees, the bones of things.The squatters in their rags nodded among themselves and were soon reckoning him correct, this man of learning, in all his speculations, and this the judge encouraged until they were right proselytes of the new order whereupon he laughed at them for fools.
In this excerpt from "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy, a character, presumably a judge, asserts the truth of God’s words compared to the misleading nature of books. He emphasizes that God's communication comes through the natural world, represented by stones and trees, suggesting a profound connection between nature and divine truth. The squatters, dressed in rags, listen and begin to accept this man's intellectual musings, seeing him as a figure of authority within this new perspective. However, the judge's demeanor shifts when he mocks them for their gullibility. Despite leading them to accept his ideas with fervor, he reveals a lack of respect, viewing them as naive followers. This reflects the judge's complex nature, embodying both a teacher and a trickster, illustrating themes of belief, truth, and manipulation within the narrative.
In this excerpt from "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy, a character, presumably a judge, asserts the truth of God’s words compared to the misleading nature of books. He emphasizes that God's communication comes through the natural world, represented by stones and trees, suggesting a profound connection between nature and divine truth. The squatters, dressed in rags, listen and begin to accept this man's intellectual musings, seeing him as a figure of authority within this new perspective.
However, the judge's demeanor shifts when he mocks them for their gullibility. Despite leading them to accept his ideas with fervor, he reveals a lack of respect, viewing them as naive followers. This reflects the judge's complex nature, embodying both a teacher and a trickster, illustrating themes of belief, truth, and manipulation within the narrative.
