Blood Meridian

Main Characters and Their Development

• The Kid - the main character, who initially appears as an unnamed teenager, a runaway and orphan. He joins Glanton's gang and experiences numerous brutal and bloody events. His development is marked by a gradual loss of innocence and humanity, as he becomes both a witness to and participant in numerous acts of violence.
• Judge Holden - a mysterious and charismatic antagonist who accompanies Glanton's gang. He is a philosopher, scholar, and killer with almost supernatural abilities. Judge Holden embodies absolute evil and chaos, and his actions and speeches are often filled with deep and dark reflections on the nature of man and the universe.
• Captain Glanton - the leader of the gang that the Kid joins. Glanton is a ruthless and merciless man who leads his gang through deserts and mountains, conducting raids and killings. His character symbolizes the cruelty and amorality inherent in the Wild West.
• Tobin (the Ex-priest) - a former priest who becomes a member of Glanton's gang. He often serves as a narrator and philosopher, reflecting on the nature of evil and fate. His character represents the conflict between religious beliefs and the harsh reality of the violent world he finds himself in.
• David Brown - one of the members of Glanton's gang, known for his brutality and ruthlessness. He embodies the extreme violence and amorality inherent in the gang.