No Country for Old Men

Hey everyone, I just had a few questions regarding the themes of No Country for Old Men, especially regarding ideas of choices and fate. I watched the movie many times and finally got around to reading the book; I was surprised at how much more is provided regarding Chigurh’s philosophy.

Chigurh very much seems to be the embodiment of fate or a predetermined universe. Throughout his various monologues, you get the sense (in a similar fashion to the Judge) that he transcends humans and seems to have the powers of a nefarious god that determines the fate of individuals. There’s that line where he suggests that “he decides who comes and goes.”

In connecting this idea of fate to the theme of choice and consequence, Chigurh also suggests throughout his various monologues that one must always live with the consequences of their choices — there’s no escaping this fact and no matter who much you would like to, once you decide a path your fate is sealed. So in connecting these two ideas, is Chigurh a reminder to the characters that come into his web that they have to face the consequences of the choices that they made? They have to face their fate and Chigurh is a reminder of this fact?