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Chapter 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Lonesome Dove, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
American Mythology
Family
Luck, Fate, and Chance
The Good Life
The Meaning of Masculinity
Feminine Strength
Summary
Analysis
When Call rides into the yard, Wilbarger, Chick, and Deets are separating the HIC horses out from the rest. When they are done, Wilbarger approaches Call and tries to buy the Hell Bitch. Call refuses.
Call loves the Hell Bitch at least in part because she’s a challenge and he likes challenges. Wilbarger’s interest confirms that she also has an intrinsic value, even if the rest of the Hat Creek men can’t see it and fear her.
Themes
Pea Eye feels anxious for Gus to return—his hunger makes him think of Gus’s sourdough biscuits. Dish suggests that Pea Eye should get a wife to make biscuits. This is a sore—and confusing—subject for Pea Eye, who—like the Captain—isn’t much of a ladies’ man. In fact, it was the shock of Pea Eye’s life one day years ago when he happened to realize that Call and Maggie had a relationship. Still, the other men like to tease Pea Eye about widow Mary Cole. Although he’s rarely spoken to her, he did once help her rescue her laundry from a sudden thunderstorm, and sometimes he remembers the smell of her wet, clean skin and the way her bosom swelled out of her corset that day. Sometimes he wishes he could marry her, but only if she lets him keep living with the Hat Creek boys.
Pea Eye’s ruminations directly broach the subject of women’s roles and values as well as the Captain’s history with women. On the first count, it’s clear that some of the men value women more for the comforts they provide—sexual as well as domestic—than as individuals. Pea Eye himself feels more comfortable in the company of men as if women like Mary Cole are an entirely different (albeit compellingly attractive) species. On the second count, Pea Eye’s narrative directly reveals a new piece of information regarding Newt’s history: his mother in fact had a relationship with Call, meaning that it’s at least as likely that Call is his father as Jake. And the night raid showed that Newt shares some of Call’s characteristics, like bravery, doggedness, and focus—unlike the flighty Jake.
Themes
Jake heads into town as soon as he’s dismounted. It’s long after sunup when Augustus, Allen, and Sean arrive, having stopped to steal some saddles for the Irishmen first. The Irishmen are grateful for the rescue but clearly upset by their introduction to America. When Augustus has helped himself to breakfast, Call asks Augustus to help the others move their stolen herd into hiding while he himself rounds up a few more hands for the drive.
Not only does Jake fail to be a team player, but he doesn’t even try to disguise the fact that he’s more selfishly interested in fulfilling his own needs and desires than anything else. As the scope of the drive comes into focus, it becomes clear that they’ll need more (and more reliable) help, which Call sets out to secure.
Themes
