friendship

             C. S. Lewis defines friendship as that which is formed between people who share the same goals and ideals, the same outlook. One sees this principle both exemplified and contradicted in "All the Pretty Horses". There is strong evidence of this in Cole and Rawlins' friendship with each other and in their "friendship" with Blevins.
             Cole in "All the Pretty Horses," subscribes to the "cowboy myth". A set of ideals romanticized in the legend of the old West. These ideals advocate self-reliance, justice, introspection, honor, and loyalty. Cole seeks a life where he can indulge this moral code, and do so with the support of those around him. Rawlins, though Cole's best friend and thereby (according to Lewis) one of his supporters, does not subscribe to this same moral code.
             At first this would seem to contradict Lewis' definition of friendship, but this is not entirely true. Rawlins recognizes that in order for Cole and himself to get along, he must be willing to adopt Cole's ideals as they influence so much of his behavior. So, while those ideals are not originally Rawlins' own, he claims them in order to preserve their friendship. But there are more factors than Cole's morals that their friendship is based on.
             The friendship between Cole and Rawlins is also based on their commonalities. They "see the same truth" (Four Loves pg.66). They both share a love of the land, though Cole holds a more romantic view of it (following his cowboy idealism). And they both obviously share a love of horses. Then, of course, there is their shared love of the nomadic (cowboy-like) lifestyle. Though they are in the wilderness, far from creature comforts, they could not be happier.
             In any relationship there is some give-and-take, and the extent of that is judged by the relative wills of those involved. In Cole and Rawlins' friendship one sees very clearly that C
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