Characters In Lonesome Dove

Doves mate for life and a lonesome dove is one that has lost or looking for its partner. This is perfectly depicted in the novel “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurty with two central characters, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call. The story follows a cattle drive spanning from the Rio Grande to northern Montana which entails much action. Among the action, there are multiple love stories. The two former Texas Rangers are inspired to start this adventure when tales of the beautiful Montana land are brought to their attention. They were rich enough and had no real reason to embark on this knowingly difficult trek but they would be the first cattlemen to move themselves and their crew, the Hat Creek Cattle Company, to Montana and that alone was enough incentive for the two restless souls. They leave their quiet town of Lonesome Dove and there is much drama along the way; hard learned lessons, boundless love, and heartbreaking deaths. Augustus, “Gus”, McCrae is a man who has a personality that you cannot help but fall in love with. He lives his every day to the fullest, never taking anything too seriously. He is full of wit and charm and knows no stranger. Woodrow Call on the other hand is reserved and emotionally distant, balancing out Gus’ sociability and making them an outstanding pair. There are other characters
Eventually they make it to Montana but not without great consequences and losses to them all. One of the most significant being when Gus dies of blood poisoning caused by two Indians arrows. But before he dies, he makes Woodrow promise to bury him back in Texas. This request sets in motion even more tragedy for the Hat Creek crew but of Gus being Woodrow’s best friend, he sets back for Texas without hesitation. When Woodrow finally returns Gus’ body to Texas, he discovers that Lonesome Dove is almost a ghost town leaving him in a bad place