74 pages • 2 hours read
Larry McmurtryA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Part 1, Chapters 1-5
Part 1, Chapters 6-10
Part 1, Chapters 11-15
Part 1, Chapters 16-20
Part 1, Chapters 21-25
Part 2, Chapters 26-30
Part 2, Chapters 31-35
Part 2, Chapters 36-40
Part 2, Chapters 41-45
Part 2, Chapters 46-50
Part 2, Chapters 51-55
Part 2, Chapters 56-60
Part 2, Chapters 61-65
Part 2, Chapters 66-70
Part 2, Chapters 71-74
Part 3, Chapters 75-80
Part 3, Chapters 81-85
Part 3, Chapters 86-90
Part 3, Chapters 91-95
Part 3, Chapters 96-102
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
The pigs are symbols of Gus’s eccentricity and temperament. When the novel begins, they function as mascots for the operation, much to Call’s irritation. The pigs are also one of the earliest signs of Gus’s argumentative nature. He knows that any mention of the pigs will annoy Call, and later, Jake. His delight in their antics at every stage of the journey characterizes Gus as someone who can always find something to smile about. Gus likes the pigs because he believes they are more intelligent than most men he knows. When the herd leaves, the pigs follow them, as if even they know that there is nothing left for them in Lonesome Dove: “‘Why, they're the first pigs to walk all the way from Texas to Montana,’ Augustus said. ‘That's quite a feat for a pig’” (832). However, after Gus dies, the pigs quickly follow suit as the men slaughter them at Christmas. Once Gus is gone, the pigs fail to represent anything other than food.
By Larry Mcmurtry