Where Money Falls Short: "No Country for Old Men" Anonymous College

Money is arguably one of the oldest social conventions still utilized in the world, constantly expanding its influence on mankind. Money once bought forgiveness and respect; today, one can purchase influence in government and even extend life with the right amount of money. Although seemingly evil, money—like any technology—is not inherently morally wrong. In No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy uses the motif of money to elucidate the problems common to all human inventions and, in a sense, responds to John Paul II’s questioning of mankind’s fear of its own work. McCarthy asserts that money—along with all other technology—separates man from the direct results of his actions and shields him from emotional involvement in situations, allowing him to enter into morally compromising positions without being fully conscious of doing so. Man fears this of money unknown consequence and its implications above all else.

In No Country for Old Men, money serves as a justification of wrongdoing in, as money—whether received or given—distances characters from the results of their actions. Llewelyn Moss continually pays people off—taxi drivers, innocent bystanders, motel owners—in order to protect himself. Though this strategy stems from a...