Captain White Character Analysis in Blood Meridian

The racist leader of an army of filibusters—government soldiers operating outside the limits of the law—with which the kid rides and a staunch advocate for American imperialism, White is embittered by the aftermath of the Mexican-American War and becomes hell-bent on invading and seizing Mexican territory. He claims to be an American patriot, yet he hypocritically breaks American law in invading Mexico. He claims to be delivering justice and liberation to “a dark and troubled land,” yet he hypocritically plans on pillaging the country of its resources. White survives the Comanches’ destruction of his army, but dies at the hands of Mexican bandits. The last the kid sees of Captain White is his head floating in a jar of mescal.

Captain White Quotes in Blood Meridian

The Blood Meridian quotes below are all either spoken by Captain White or refer to Captain White. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

There is no government in Mexico. Hell, there’s no God in Mexico. Never will be. We are dealing with a people manifestly incapable of governing themselves. And do you know what happens with people who cannot govern themselves? That’s right. Others come in to govern for them.

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 33

Explanation and Analysis:

The wrath of God lies sleeping. It was hid a million years before men were and only men have power to wake it. Hell aint half full. Hear me. Ye carry war of a madman’s making onto a foreign land. Ye’ll wake more than the dogs.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 39

Explanation and Analysis:

Captain White Quotes in Blood Meridian

The Blood Meridian quotes below are all either spoken by Captain White or refer to Captain White. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

There is no government in Mexico. Hell, there’s no God in Mexico. Never will be. We are dealing with a people manifestly incapable of governing themselves. And do you know what happens with people who cannot govern themselves? That’s right. Others come in to govern for them.

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 33

Explanation and Analysis:

The wrath of God lies sleeping. It was hid a million years before men were and only men have power to wake it. Hell aint half full. Hear me. Ye carry war of a madman’s making onto a foreign land. Ye’ll wake more than the dogs.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 39

Explanation and Analysis:

Everything you needfor every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Captain White Character Analysis

Captain White Quotes in Blood Meridian

Captain White Quotes in Blood Meridian

Everything you need
for every book you read.