True Grit Themes

In True Grit, Portis demonstrates just how far people are willing to go for revenge. When fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross learns that her father has been killed by Tom Chaney, she yearns for vengeance. As the novel progresses, she develops an uncompromising thirst for retribution, one that illustrates the extent to which revenge can consume a person. Unsatisfied with the idea of LaBoeuf—a Texas Ranger—arresting Chaney for a different crime, she insists that…

In many ways, True Grit is an examination of what people expect of children. Because Mattie is only fourteen years old, people repeatedly write her off, making inaccurate assumptions about her based on her age. This dynamic is compounded by the fact that she is a woman in the Wild West, where everyone believes only men are fit for danger and adventure. Despite these prejudices, though, Mattie remains undeterred by what people think of her…

The majority of the characters in True Grit celebrate a brutal kind of courage, one that has its roots in violence and aggression. In particular, people like Rooster and LaBoeuf are proud of their daring ways and even compete over who’s tougher or who’s a better marksman. In keeping with this, Portis demonstrates how important it is in the macho culture of the Wild West to prove oneself, something that can seemingly only be done…