No Country for Old Men as Political Allegory

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2007)

When one considers that this novel was published in 2005, that the film was released in 2007, and the action takes place along the Mexican border near George W. Bush's Odessa, Texas, circa 1980, it should not come as a surprise that there are deep parallels embedded in the story relating to current American policies and politics. In fact, I am becoming convinced that No Country for Old Men is a political allegory that is meant to be a direct reflection of today's geopolitical events. I still believe that the story is tied strongly to the themes of inner struggle, the Trinity, and good, evil, and innocence, but I now see a more direct political allegory layered with religious/philosophical images and overtones.
Ed Tom Bell is George W. Bush nearing the end of his Presidency. His father, an earlier Texas lawman, was/is George Herbert Walker Bush. Llewelyn is a born and bred American hero, he is also a Christ figure. He is a heartland American Christian. Llewelyn tells Carson in the hospital that he is a welder, a modern version of a carpenter, a joiner of materials.
Anton represents Islam. He is an Islamic terrorist acting according to his own philosophy and morality, contrary to the law (Ed Tom) and western cultural values (Llewelyn). If you doubt he is a terrorist, consider how he improvised a car bomb which he detonated on a city street in order to steal supplies from the shattered pharmacy.
The money is the money, but also represents the corruption of innocence. It's oil money, drug money, big contracts, however it is that great wealth may fall into someone's hands, corrupting one from a righteous path. Llewelyn found the money when he was diverted from tending his flock (the antelope herd), and backtracked the blood trail of the wounded dog to the scene of the carnage. The dog was certainly a sign of corruption and evil. The managers and businessmen were just that, oilmen, Halliburton and Enron execs, totally corrupt, doing business with Mexican drug smugglers and terrorists like Anton. The Mexicans are Mexicans, but also represent the broader third world influx moving across open borders. They are corrupting as well, and bring with them a new set of rules, their own values, and challenge the value of American life. One on one, Llewelyn sees the wounded Mexican wheel man as a brother, and places himself and his family at grave risk by going back to bring the man water. His reward for this kindness is to be hunted down by the Mexican's compadres. He is chased at dawn by the blazing light and machine gun fire of the jeep, and then by a devil dog, into the river - a baptism under fire.
Carson is a military contractor. He is hired to bring down the terrorist Anton. He has dealt with Anton before, on which side we are not quite sure. He is cocky and assured of his superiority. He underestimates his enemy and is killed by the terrorist. Llewelyn has a strong belief in his own abilities, his ability to survive, and his manifest destiny. Llewelyn is killed by the out-of-control Mexicans, running amok in Llewelyn's land, possibly at the behest of the corrupt business interests.
In the end, Anton goes limping off, banged-up, but still in the world. Ed Tom retires to his beautiful wife who is apparently untouched by these matters, while Llewelyn's wife Carla Jean is dead by the terrorist's hand. Ed Tom dreams and vaguely remembers the money passed to him from his father (power, influence, legacy), which he has somehow now lost. He sees his father ride by in the night, carrying a flame. Ed Tom dreams that his father is riding ahead to prepare a fire and make camp in the cold darkness ahead.