Good vs. Evil Quotes in No Country for Old Men

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)

Quote #1

And he told me that he had been plannin to kill somebody for about as long as he could remember. Said that if they turned him out he'd do it again. Said he knew he was goin to hell. (1.1.1)

Introducing the concept of hell in the very first paragraph puts us in the mindset to look out for battles of good versus evil right away. And not that we need to be told this, but anyone who kills without remorse is probably evil.

Quote #2

I really believe that he knew he was goin to be in hell in fifteen minutes. I believe that. And I've thought about that a lot. (1.1.1)

Following the first quote, this idea of evil is unsettling to Bell. Not just because evil is, naturally, unsettling, but because the whole concept is hard to comprehend. How can be people actually be that evil?

Quote #3

What do you say to a man that by his own admission has no soul? Why would you say anything? I've thought about it a good deal. But he wasnt nothin compared to what was comin down the pike. (1.1.1)

Did someone mention Anton Chigurh? Oh, actually, no—no one has mentioned him yet. That makes this foreshadowing, folks. It's Chigurh who will turn out to be way worse than the man in prison who says that if he is let out, he will kill again. That's pretty bad. And if that guy doesn't have a soul, what about Chigurh? Does he have an anti-soul?