10 True Grit

“I said, ‘They tell me you are a man with true grit’(59)”.

A theme of the novel is bravery. Throughout the novel, Mattie’s courage is tested repeatedly, each time helping her to get stronger and stronger for when the climax occurs with her in a hole with a broken arm surrounded by snakes. She wants a man with “true grit”, someone that will be tough enough to catch Tom Chaney and bring him back to hang. But Portis shows the irony of it all, because she, of course, has the most “grit” out of anyone in the novel, always being treated with respect because she is confident and tough, and able to accomplish anything. She is the most courageous and tough character, and yet she is in search or one.

9 true Grit

“’I will take one of those ponies off your hands. The black one with the white stockings in front. I will call him Little Blackie’(91).”

In horse mythology, it is said that a horse with two white forelegs is very lucky. After Mattie purchases Little Blackie, she has relatively good luck from then on, successfully venturing off with the two bounty hunters, retrieving one of her gold pieces, capturing and killing Tom Chaney and having quite a successful journey in general. It is possible that Portis is foreshadowing Mattie’s good luck when he mentions Little Blackie’s white forelegs. The color white also symbolizes innocents and cleanliness, which is what Mattie has when she leaves home. Once she has witnessed death and has participated in the help of murder, Little Blackie dies. Portis may have represented Mattie’s innocents with the horses white legs.

8 True Grit

“The cat’s name was General Sterling Price(62)”.

-Sterling Price was a lawyer, governor and general in the mid 1800’s.  He is best known for his victories in New Mexico and Chihuana and his losses at the Battles of Pea Ridge and Wesport. Earlier in the novel, Portis mentions that Mattie’s father “fought with determination at the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern”, which is the same battle as the Battle of Pea Ridge. Cogburn also fought in the battle, against Sterling’s army, and defeated him. The author most likely had Cogburn name his cat after the general that he beat to show that Cogburn is a proud and cocky man who likes to flaunt his victories and make other people seem smaller than himself. This characterizes Cogburn well. 

7 True Grit

“I had guessed wrong as to which one he was, picking out a younger and slighter man with a badge on his shirt, and I was surprised when an old one-eyed jasper that was built along the lines of Grover Cleveland went up and was sworn(45).”

The year of 1968, which was when the novel was written, was a year of demonstrations, violent protests and activism over political issues such as women’s liberation, war and racism. It was an intense period in the United States where citizens who were not considered “the elite”, such as women and African Americans, were stepping up and voicing their opinions on which rights they should have. Throughout the novel, Portis adds certain events, characters and characteristics that are relevant to the time period, having Mattie be an outspoken, intelligent woman who constantly has to prove herself because men already have a preconception of all her. He also hints at Mattie’s unpleasant feelings toward Indians, but after meeting some, he has her realize they are civilized human beings just like herself. Portis is subtly saying that prejudice and preconceptions must be overthrown, but there is no need for violence. Mattie is guilty of preconceptions herself on many occasions, such as her idea of Rooster Cogburn. Once she realizes her mistakes though, she accepts them without trouble and goes on with her life. Mattie may be a metaphor of how Portis believes the U.S should operate in politics. 

6 True Grit

“Laboeuf watched him and grinned. He said, ‘That is a piece of foolishness. All snakes are asleep this time of year.’

     ‘They have been known to wake up,’ said Rooster(121)”.

-In this quote, Portis foreshadows Mattie’s future encounter with snakes in the hole that she falls into.  In the novel, poisonous snakes are Mattie’s one real fear, which makes perfect sense, seeing as they are very harmful. Portis makes a point to illustrate Mattie’s practicality, and her fear of poisonous snakes is another way he shows her character to the reader. 

5 True Grit

“The meanest one is Rooster Cogburn(25)”.

-Roosters (as in the type of bird) symbolize physical and moral fortitude protection, honesty and bossiness. These traits are all qualities that Rooster Cogburn has himself. The author most likely chose his name to emphasize his character. At first, roosters seem very defensive and mean, but if you look farther into the deeper meaning of them, they are much more than that. Rooster Cogburn parallels with this perfectly.