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Chapter 19
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
As soon as Jake walks through the door of the Dusty Bean, Lorena sees that he’s in a bad mood. For a moment, she worries that he found out about Augustus’s visit that afternoon. But when he finally approaches the table with a bottle of whiskey in his hand, she sees no animosity in his eyes—at least not toward her. When Lippy tries to strike up a conversation, Jake grabs the bottle and heads for the stairs. This annoys Lorena; it’s hotter up in her room than in the bar. But she follows him. And she doesn’t stop him when he immediately insists on having sex with her, even as dusty and sweaty as he is from the day’s work.
Lorena’s fear over losing Jake’s attention—and the slim hope he’ll take her away—reminds readers of the precarity of her position. She relies on men and their financial resources to help her achieve her goals. So she’s at Jake’s mercy, even when he behaves inappropriately surly toward her. Readers know that he's in a bad mood because he’s been forced to work and because he doesn’t want to go to Montana, but he fears facing July Johnson more than he resents the hard work. He’s incapable of standing on his own and taking responsibility for his actions.
Themes
Afterwards, Jake starts complains about the drive and Call and Gus, and how Gus disappeared for the whole afternoon. Lorena tells him, without hesitation or shame, that Gus came by for her services, for which he paid $50. For a moment, she tries to maintain that she turned him down, but Jake doesn’t believe her. Lorena rises from the bed as she asks Jake if he plans to go on the drive. He says it would be more fun to go to San Antonio and do some gambling, but—as Gus predicted—she’s insistent on going to San Francisco. And she insists on an answer, refusing Jake’s attempts to divert her attention. Finally, he offers to ride alongside the Hat Creek boys and camp with them at night at least as far as Denver. Lorie isn’t satisfied until he promises they can leave in the morning.
Lorena’s willingness to come clean to Jake shows her growing sense of independence. She’s not afraid of him. She’s willing to stand up to him when he suggests staying in Texas. And she prevails in the argument. This conversation proves how accurately Gus has understood Lorena’s needs and desires—and how blind Jake has been to them. But it also shows how capable Lorena is of taking care of herself despite her desire to have Jake do it for her.
Themes
