Wayne Cole Character Analysis in All the Pretty Horses

John Grady’s father, he only appears briefly at the beginning of the novel. It seems that the two were once close, but the father went away to fight in World War II and was imprisoned in Goshee, a POW camp, after which he was different. He seems not to care about much as the novel opens, essentially shrugging his shoulders at his ex-wife’s decision to sell the ranch. John Grady thinks about his father at various times throughout the book, and feels regret at their failure to establish a closer relationship.

Wayne Cole Character Timeline in All the Pretty Horses

The timeline below shows where the character Wayne Cole appears in All the Pretty Horses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The Idea of the American West Theme Icon

At the funeral, John Grady’s father stands by himself a little away from the others, as the women hold onto their... (full context)

John Grady meets his father in a café, where people seem to recognize them. John Grady says “she’s” gone to... (full context)

...say anything to him, John Grady says. He also says he won’t go with his father on Saturday. (full context)

...and there are a few warm days left, which John Grady spends drinking coffee (his father whisky) in the hotel room where his father is now staying. John Grady asks him... (full context)

...says he should be getting back home, and as they walk into the lobby his father says the Bible says the meek shall inherit the earth, but he wonders whether that’s... (full context)

Innocence, Expertise, and Knowledge Theme Icon

...isn’t there, and sometimes he catches a ride into town and looks up at his father’s window to watch his shadow pace back and forth. When his mother returns they eat... (full context)

...and she can do whatever she wants with it, especially since she and John Grady’s father are divorced—John Grady didn’t know this, but it was finalized three weeks ago. John Grady... (full context)

John Grady and his father ride one last time together in early March, along Grape Creek into the hills and... (full context)

They ride into town and tie their horses in front of a café. His father asks if he’s thought about “boarding” his horse, keeping it at the ranch in exchange... (full context)

Meaningful and Gratuitous Violence Theme Icon

...the next three days, John Grady thinks about the terrible things probably done to his father in Goshee, and about everything he doesn’t know about him. He decides not to think... (full context)

When John Grady wakes up he knows his father is dead. He rides on until the evening, when he sees lights in the distance... (full context)

...Rawlins exclaims that Junior, Rawlins’ horse, is there. He says John Grady must know his father died, and that Abuela is very sick. He asks what John Grady plans to do.... (full context)