True Grit

by

Charles Portis

Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) Character Analysis

An outlaw with a black mark on his face who murders Mattie’s father, Frank Ross. Before Chaney kills Frank, Mattie’s family believes he’s simply a man from Louisiana who is down on his luck. Because of this, Frank Ross hires him and brings him to Fort Smith to help him buy a group of ponies. However, what the Rosses don’t know is that Tom Chaney is really a man named Theron Chelmsford who murdered a Texan senator several months ago and has been on the run ever since. The night after Frank buys ponies from Stonehill, Tom Chaney goes out drinking and gambling. When he returns to the boarding house where he and Frank are staying, he drinks furiously and decides to go after the men who won his money. On his way out, Frank tries to stop him, so Chaney shoots him in the head, steals two medallions from him, and runs to Stonehill’s stables, where he steals Lucy, Frank’s horse. He then flees town and meets up with Lucky Ned Pepper and his gang of outlaws, escaping into Indian Territory. Mattie, for her part, wants Chaney to be hanged in Fort Smith, but LaBoeuf tells her that he’ll be taking him back to Texas, where he will collect a handsome reward. None of this comes to pass in the end, since Mattie ends up shooting Chaney in the head after he briefly kidnaps her. The kickback of her old pistol sends her reeling backwards into a pit of rattlesnakes and bats, but she survives and ultimately accomplishes what she set out to do: avenge her father’s death.

Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) or refer to Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

People do not give it credence that a fourteen-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father’s blood but it did not seem so strange then, although I will say it did not happen every day.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Related Symbols: Frank Ross’s Gold Pieces
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:

Tom Chaney raised his rifle and shot him in the fore­head, killing him instantly. There was no more provocation than that and I tell it as it was told to me by the high sheriff of Sebastian County. Some people might say, well, what business was it of Frank Ross to meddle? My answer is this: he was trying to do that short devil a good turn. Chaney was a tenant and Papa felt responsibility. He was his brother’s keeper. Does that answer your question?

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), The Sheriff
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

I said, “I have hopes that the marshals will get him soon. His name is Tom Chaney. He worked for us. I am trying to get action. I aim to see him shot or hanged.”

“Yes, yes, well might you labor to that end,” said Stonehill. “At the same time I will counsel patience. The brave marshals do their best but they are few in number. The lawbreakers are legion and they range over a vast country that offers many natural hiding places. The marshal travels about friendless and alone in that criminal nation. Every man’s hand is against him there save in large part for that of the Indian who has been cruelly imposed upon by felonious intruders from the States.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I want Chaney to pay for killing my father and not some Texas bird dog.”

“It will not be for the dog, it will be for the senator, and your father too. He will be just as dead that way, you see, and pay for all his crimes at once.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), LaBoeuf (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Stonehill
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

“Yes, a splendid inducement. Well, perhaps it will all work out to your satisfaction. I shall pray that you return safely, your efforts crowned with success. It may prove to be a hard journey.”

“The good Christian does not flinch from difficulties.”

“Neither does he rashly court them. The good Christian is not willful or presumptuous.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

“I want him to know he is being punished for killing my father. It is nothing to me how many dogs and fat men he killed in Texas.”

“You can let him know that,” said Rooster. “You can tell him to his face. You can spit on him and make him eat sand out of the road. You can put a ball in his foot and I will hold him while you do it. But we must catch him first. We will need some help. You are being stiff-necked about this. You are young. It is time you learned that you cannot have your way in every little particular. Other people have got their interests too.”

“When I have bought and paid for something I will have my way. Why do you think I am paying you if not to have my way?”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn (speaker), LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 97
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

I said, “If you refuse to go I will have to shoot you.”

He went on with his work and said, “Oh? Then you had better cock your piece.”

I had forgotten about that. I pulled the hammer back with both thumbs.

“All the way back till it locks,” said Chaney.

“I know how to do it,” said I. When it was ready I said, “You will not go with me?”

“I think not,” said he. “It is just the other way around. You are going with me.”

I pointed the revolver at his belly and shot him down. The explosion kicked me backwards and caused me to lose my footing and the pistol jumped from my hand.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 179
Explanation and Analysis:

The bandit chieftain made no reply. He brushed the snow and dirt from my face and said, “Your life depends upon their actions. I have never busted a cap on a woman or anybody much under sixteen years but I will do what I have to do.”

I said, “There is some mix-up here. I am Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle, Arkansas. My family has property and I don’t know why I am being treated like this.”

Lucky Ned Pepper said, “It is enough that you know I will do what I have to do.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Lucky Ned Pepper (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 183
Explanation and Analysis:

I hurriedly cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger. The charge exploded and sent a lead ball of justice, too long delayed, into the criminal head of Tom Chaney.

Yet I was not to taste the victory. The kick of the big pistol sent me reeling backward. I had forgotten about the pit behind me!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

The lawyer had blamed Rooster for taking me on the search for Tom Chaney and had roundly cursed him and threatened to prosecute him in a court action. I was upset on hearing it. I told Lawyer Daggett that Rooster was in no way to blame, and was rather to be praised and commended for his grit. He had certainly saved my life.

Whatever his adversaries, the railroads and steamboat companies, may have thought, Lawyer Daggett was a gentleman, and on hearing the straight of the matter he was embarrassed by his actions. He said he still considered the deputy marshal had acted with poor judgment, but in the circumstances was deserving an apology.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lawyer Daggett
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:
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Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) or refer to Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

People do not give it credence that a fourteen-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father’s blood but it did not seem so strange then, although I will say it did not happen every day.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Related Symbols: Frank Ross’s Gold Pieces
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:

Tom Chaney raised his rifle and shot him in the fore­head, killing him instantly. There was no more provocation than that and I tell it as it was told to me by the high sheriff of Sebastian County. Some people might say, well, what business was it of Frank Ross to meddle? My answer is this: he was trying to do that short devil a good turn. Chaney was a tenant and Papa felt responsibility. He was his brother’s keeper. Does that answer your question?

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), The Sheriff
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

I said, “I have hopes that the marshals will get him soon. His name is Tom Chaney. He worked for us. I am trying to get action. I aim to see him shot or hanged.”

“Yes, yes, well might you labor to that end,” said Stonehill. “At the same time I will counsel patience. The brave marshals do their best but they are few in number. The lawbreakers are legion and they range over a vast country that offers many natural hiding places. The marshal travels about friendless and alone in that criminal nation. Every man’s hand is against him there save in large part for that of the Indian who has been cruelly imposed upon by felonious intruders from the States.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“I want Chaney to pay for killing my father and not some Texas bird dog.”

“It will not be for the dog, it will be for the senator, and your father too. He will be just as dead that way, you see, and pay for all his crimes at once.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), LaBoeuf (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Stonehill
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

“Yes, a splendid inducement. Well, perhaps it will all work out to your satisfaction. I shall pray that you return safely, your efforts crowned with success. It may prove to be a hard journey.”

“The good Christian does not flinch from difficulties.”

“Neither does he rashly court them. The good Christian is not willful or presumptuous.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

“I want him to know he is being punished for killing my father. It is nothing to me how many dogs and fat men he killed in Texas.”

“You can let him know that,” said Rooster. “You can tell him to his face. You can spit on him and make him eat sand out of the road. You can put a ball in his foot and I will hold him while you do it. But we must catch him first. We will need some help. You are being stiff-necked about this. You are young. It is time you learned that you cannot have your way in every little particular. Other people have got their interests too.”

“When I have bought and paid for something I will have my way. Why do you think I am paying you if not to have my way?”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn (speaker), LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford)
Page Number: 97
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

I said, “If you refuse to go I will have to shoot you.”

He went on with his work and said, “Oh? Then you had better cock your piece.”

I had forgotten about that. I pulled the hammer back with both thumbs.

“All the way back till it locks,” said Chaney.

“I know how to do it,” said I. When it was ready I said, “You will not go with me?”

“I think not,” said he. “It is just the other way around. You are going with me.”

I pointed the revolver at his belly and shot him down. The explosion kicked me backwards and caused me to lose my footing and the pistol jumped from my hand.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford) (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 179
Explanation and Analysis:

The bandit chieftain made no reply. He brushed the snow and dirt from my face and said, “Your life depends upon their actions. I have never busted a cap on a woman or anybody much under sixteen years but I will do what I have to do.”

I said, “There is some mix-up here. I am Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle, Arkansas. My family has property and I don’t know why I am being treated like this.”

Lucky Ned Pepper said, “It is enough that you know I will do what I have to do.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Lucky Ned Pepper (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 183
Explanation and Analysis:

I hurriedly cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger. The charge exploded and sent a lead ball of justice, too long delayed, into the criminal head of Tom Chaney.

Yet I was not to taste the victory. The kick of the big pistol sent me reeling backward. I had forgotten about the pit behind me!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

The lawyer had blamed Rooster for taking me on the search for Tom Chaney and had roundly cursed him and threatened to prosecute him in a court action. I was upset on hearing it. I told Lawyer Daggett that Rooster was in no way to blame, and was rather to be praised and commended for his grit. He had certainly saved my life.

Whatever his adversaries, the railroads and steamboat companies, may have thought, Lawyer Daggett was a gentleman, and on hearing the straight of the matter he was embarrassed by his actions. He said he still considered the deputy marshal had acted with poor judgment, but in the circumstances was deserving an apology.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lawyer Daggett
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis: