The judge placed his hands on the ground. He looked at his inquisitor. This is my claim, he said. And yet everywhere upon it are pockets of autonomous life. Autonomous. In order for it to be mine nothing must be permitted to occur upon it save by my dispensation.
In "Blood Meridian," Cormac McCarthy explores the notion of ownership and control over land through the perspective of a judge. The judge asserts his claim to the ground by emphasizing that, despite it being his, there are areas of life that thrive independently, highlighting a tension between human dominion and nature's autonomy. His declaration underlines the idea that to truly possess something, one must have complete authority over all that happens on it.
This assertion raises profound questions about the nature of power and existence, suggesting that true ownership involves more than mere title; it reflects a desire to eliminate any autonomy that may exist within one’s domain. The judge’s articulated belief in absolute control challenges the reader to consider the complexities of land, life, and the intricate web of interactions between them, lingering on the theme of moral and existential responsibility towards the environment.
