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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
While waiting for Newt and Po Campo—who are winding their way toward camp slowly, picking up things from the ground—Gus and Call discuss their suspicion that Blue Duck had something to do with the previous night’s stampede. Po Campo must wait for the donkey to arrive to get his skillet, but within minutes of introducing himself to the company, he’s frying up a plover-egg omelet. All the hands praise the breakfast, which annoys Gus because he hates to be outclassed in any activity, even cooking. That evening, after serving beefsteak and beans, Po Campo fries up dozens of grasshoppers, which he serves with molasses. Deets is the first man willing to try them and soon everybody except Jasper and Augustus have enjoyed a few. Augustus refuses on principle (he’s still sore over Po Campo’s skill) and Jasper works up his courage too late, after they’re all gone.
Po Campo quickly teaches the men (and readers) how valuable ingenuity and creativity are not just on the cattle drive but in life generally. His unconventional ingredients offer a not-so-subtle reminder that trying new things is an important part of truly being alive. And while the competition annoys Gus, it also seems to please him—he always enjoys having someone in his class to spar with. That’s part of what cements his friendship with Call: they’re both strong enough to be equals. For how concerned Gus was to make sure Lorena had protection, it seems like an odd oversight to forget to check on her until late in the day.
Themes
No sooner has the company finished eating its dessert than a panicked and half-drunk Jake rides into camp, demanding to know where Augustus has hidden Lorena. Protesting that he doesn’t have her, Gus immediately begins saddling up a horse. He feels terrible because he forgot about Lorie in the excitement of the stampede, and he knows Blue Duck has her now. Newt reports that she was fine, at least up until the stampede started. Augustus explains to Jake about his encounter with Blue Duck and describes Lorena’s refusal to come to the cow camp for safety. She trusted Jake to take care of her, Gus points out, and Jake failed. Weakly, he protests that he didn’t mean to stay away so long.
Both Jake and Gus have failed Lorena, who depends on them for protection, miserably. (Newt has failed her, too, although his failure reflects his youth and inexperience). Their reactions tell the difference in their characters. Jake is selfish and jealous, worried about how Lorie’s absence affects him—not what might have happened to her. Gus behaves more conscientiously. And, because he enjoys his pleasures (including gambling and drinking) moderately, for the most part, he’s ready to spring into action whenever the situation demands it.
Themes
Dish volunteers to go with Augustus, further enraging Jake. But Augustus refuses all help. He rides off alone. Jake tries to demand a horse from the remuda but Call refuses. Coldly, he tells Jake to ride back to Austin and buy one for himself with the winnings from his gambling spree. Jake vents his rage on Newt for failing to watch Lorena, then on Po Campo—whom he's never met—for being a spy before angrily riding away from the camp. Worried, Deets asks Call if he should follow Augustus, but Call won’t let him. Augustus made his own choice, and the company can’t spare their scout.
Dish sees a chance to capitalize on the situation by riding in as a hero to rescue Lorena. But Gus denies him the opportunity because this is not a heroic or romantic opportunity: it’s a life-and-death situation. And it rises from mistakes he made. So, he sets an example for Dish (and Newt and readers) of responsibility. He’s let Lorena down, and he will either rescue her or die trying.
Themes
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