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Chapter 77
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
Back in Kansas, Gus and the others come riding back to the cattle drive three days after setting out to find Wilbarger. Lorena feels very relieved to have him by her side once more. She doesn’t even feel sad when he tells her that Jake is dead. Her feelings for him died when he failed to rescue her. That night, she has a nightmare about Gus dying. She wakes him and they sit in the moonlight for a while, talking. Lorena wants to know if Gus plans to marry his Nebraska woman (Clara). Gus says she’ll probably turn him down again, even if she’s available. She’s independent. Lorena offers Gus sex, hoping that the proof he still wants her will drive her worry about losing him away. Gently, he turns her down.
The trauma she suffered at the hands of Blue Duck and his men severely compromised the independence Lorena once had, even though her slow recovery testifies to her resilience and strength. Her growing dependence on Gus also testifies to the fact that what she’s really looking for in life is the safety and security of a family, something she hasn’t had for a long time. Gus remains careful throughout this time to make Lorena feel safe and secure, but the small bits of distance he maintains hint that he may not always be there for her.
Themes
