The excerpt from Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" explores the complex essence of war. It asserts that war serves dual purposes: it is both a competitive struggle and a means of establishing power, legitimacy, and justification. This duality highlights how the outcomes of war can reshape societies and define moral frameworks.

Furthermore, the idea of war as a form of divination suggests that conflict reveals deeper truths about humanity and existence. Through the chaos of battle, fundamental aspects of human nature and societal structures are exposed, making war an insightful, albeit brutal, lens through which we can understand life itself.