But, if one cuts more deeply, the lonesome dove is Newt, a lonely teenager who is the unacknowledged son of Captain Call and a kindly whore named Maggie, who is now dead. So the central theme of the novel is not the stocking of Montana but unacknowledged paternity. All of the Hat Creek Outfit, including particularly Augustus McCrae, want Call to accept the boy as his son.
The novel "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry delves into deeper themes beyond its adventurous narrative. At its core, it poignantly explores the issue of unrecognized paternity through the character of Newt, a teenage boy who yearns for acceptance. He is the illegitimate son of Captain Call and Maggie, a deceased woman who had a kind heart. Newt's longing for acknowledgment embodies the overarching theme of the story, contrasting the rugged journey across Montana with the emotional struggles of familial bonds.
