Lester Ballard In Cormac Mccarthy's Child Of God

In Cormac McCarthy’s novel, Child of God, the main character, Lester Ballard posses qualities that moves us as the readers to see him in the light of a monster. Lester lives a life on the path unknown. As a young boy, his father killed himself and his mother ran off with another man. Townspeople describe him as being “never right” after his traumatic childhood. Without parental supervision or control, Lester grew up alone. He was never taught to love, care or respect human life. In addition, he has never been loved or cared about. Although he was born innocent, there was no one to integrate him into society. Therefore, leading Lester Ballard to making choices with a severely underdeveloped moral compass.

Ballard’s nature of monstrosity is the
For example, on a walk one afternoon he came upon a car where a man and woman were in the middle of making love when the fumes of the car in junction with the cold temperatures killed them. After stealing all money out of the man’s wallet and any possessions in sight, Ballard stole of corpse of the woman. McCarthy informs us, “when he got home with the dead girl it was mid morning”. (McCarthy 91). He carried a corpse for miles back to his home, where he proceeded to rape, mutilate, and treat her as his lover. This is Ballard’s way of feeling needed and important because he cannot maintain a relationship with a live person. For example, when he was trying to seduce and interest another woman, she laughed in his face and answered, “You ain’t even a man. You’re just a crazy thing.” (117). Ballard responded by killing her and burning down the house to erase any and all evidence. He simply wants to fit into society, but has no concept on how to be “normal”. Ballard’s monstrosity is scary in his gruesome acts of violence, making him a believable monster. He thrives off of inflicting pain upon others. Picture this Lester Ballard could be down the