There are plenty of rugged frontiersman in the novel: while "man-boy" may be new slang, the protagonists of All the Pretty Horses are more like "boy-men." While young, they have the swagger, independence, and skill at violence that you might expect from today's movies about super mercenaries (there are moments of regret and vulnerability, however). On the flip side, women strive to be independent, but are caught by social forces beyond their control—and in the end, both Alfonsa and Alejandra discover that no matter how strong your will, you can't flout social conventions about gender (or class, for that matter).
Questions About Gender
- What social disadvantages does Alfonsa experience due to her gender? Are there any possible advantages?
- Imagine that Alejandra was a man, or perhaps a woman of lower class. Would there be different consequences for the kinds of actions she takes in the novel? How so?
- In what ways does John Grady fit the stereotype of a stoic, rugged frontiersman? Is what ways does he not fit that stereotype?
Chew on This
Alejandra is limited by her role as the daughter of a wealthy man of society: she must adhere to traditions regarding chastity that don't apply to men, and despite her efforts to break out of that role, she is sucked back into it through her relationship with her father.
If Alejandra were a man, she'd still be oppressed. Sure, she might potentially be freer in many other ways, but she might also be implicated in the political struggles of the day due to her class status, as were the Maderos.