No COuntry for old men: JoEy ScHulMAn

Society is built upon a foundation of norms, but not all individuals adhere to said norms, some are outliers. If the actions of an individual causes pain onto another, society defines that the normal reaction for that individual would be to exhibit a state of empathy, but this is not always the case, as there are those who do not feel or exhibit the normal psychological reactions to differing scenarios (sociopaths). As individuals’ progress and experience obstacles in their lives, they become familiar with the different aspects of their mind, such as their persona, shadow, and self, ultimately achieving individuation. In Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men, the state of individuation is demonstrated by the antagonist Anton Chigurh at the onset of the novel. In Anton Chigurh’s quest for the stolen satchel of money, Chigurh remorselessly murders all those who are obstacles to attain the satchel, including competitors. Through Chigurh’s varying experiences during his expedition, Chigurh’s constant impersonal persona, sadistic shadow and sociopathic self, portray him as an individual who has attained individuation prior to the onset of the story.