True Grit

by

Charles Portis

Lucky Ned Pepper Character Analysis

A notorious outlaw who leads a band of criminals, including Haze, The Original Greaser Bob, Harold Permalee, and Farrell Permalee. After killing Frank Ross, Tom Chaney falls in with Ned and his crew, escaping with them into Indian Country. During this period, Ned and his boys have just held up a mail train and are on the run, though it’s worth noting that they’re seemingly always on the run. In fact, Rooster has had a number of encounters with Lucky Ned Pepper, even shooting off the criminal’s lip at one point. When Chaney encounters Mattie in the woods and forcibly brings her to the outlaws’ camp, Ned Pepper shows a surprising amount of kindness, ordering Chaney not to kill her when he and the rest of the gang leave them alone, though this only makes Chaney angry because he understands that Ned is abandoning him. Shortly thereafter, Ned and the clan come upon Rooster, who charges at them and kills everyone but Ned himself before toppling over. As Ned approaches to finish Rooster off, LaBoeuf shoots him from the hilltop, killing him instantly.

Lucky Ned Pepper Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Lucky Ned Pepper or refer to Lucky Ned Pepper. 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:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

I thought it was in LaBoeuf’s favor that his first shot had struck and killed Lucky Ned Pepper’s horse. If he had been shooting from panic would he have come so near to hitting the bandit chieftain with his first shot? On the other hand, he claimed to be an experienced officer and rifleman, and if he had been alert and had taken a deliberate shot would he not have hit his mark? Only LaBoeuf knew the truth of the matter. I grew impatient with their wrangling over the point. I think Rooster was angry because the play had been taken away from him and because Lucky Ned Pepper had beaten him once again.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The bandit chieftain made no reply. He brushed the snow and dirt from my face and said, “Your life depends upon their actions. I have never busted a cap on a woman or anybody much under sixteen years but I will do what I have to do.”

I said, “There is some mix-up here. I am Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle, Arkansas. My family has property and I don’t know why I am being treated like this.”

Lucky Ned Pepper said, “It is enough that you know I will do what I have to do.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Lucky Ned Pepper (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 183
Explanation and Analysis:

Who was to blame? Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn! The gabbing drunken fool had made a mistake of four miles and led us directly into the robbers’ lair. A keen detective! Yes, and in an earlier state of drunkenness he had placed faulty caps in my revolver, causing it to fail me in a time of need. That was not enough; now he had abandoned me in this howling wilderness to a gang of cutthroats who cared not a rap for the blood of their own companions, and how much less for that of a helpless and unwanted youngster! Was this what they called grit in Fort Smith? We called it something else in Yell County!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 190
Explanation and Analysis:

I hurriedly cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger. The charge exploded and sent a lead ball of justice, too long delayed, into the criminal head of Tom Chaney.

Yet I was not to taste the victory. The kick of the big pistol sent me reeling backward. I had forgotten about the pit behind me!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lucky Ned Pepper Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Lucky Ned Pepper or refer to Lucky Ned Pepper. 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:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

I thought it was in LaBoeuf’s favor that his first shot had struck and killed Lucky Ned Pepper’s horse. If he had been shooting from panic would he have come so near to hitting the bandit chieftain with his first shot? On the other hand, he claimed to be an experienced officer and rifleman, and if he had been alert and had taken a deliberate shot would he not have hit his mark? Only LaBoeuf knew the truth of the matter. I grew impatient with their wrangling over the point. I think Rooster was angry because the play had been taken away from him and because Lucky Ned Pepper had beaten him once again.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The bandit chieftain made no reply. He brushed the snow and dirt from my face and said, “Your life depends upon their actions. I have never busted a cap on a woman or anybody much under sixteen years but I will do what I have to do.”

I said, “There is some mix-up here. I am Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle, Arkansas. My family has property and I don’t know why I am being treated like this.”

Lucky Ned Pepper said, “It is enough that you know I will do what I have to do.”

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Lucky Ned Pepper (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father)
Page Number: 183
Explanation and Analysis:

Who was to blame? Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn! The gabbing drunken fool had made a mistake of four miles and led us directly into the robbers’ lair. A keen detective! Yes, and in an earlier state of drunkenness he had placed faulty caps in my revolver, causing it to fail me in a time of need. That was not enough; now he had abandoned me in this howling wilderness to a gang of cutthroats who cared not a rap for the blood of their own companions, and how much less for that of a helpless and unwanted youngster! Was this what they called grit in Fort Smith? We called it something else in Yell County!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 190
Explanation and Analysis:

I hurriedly cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger. The charge exploded and sent a lead ball of justice, too long delayed, into the criminal head of Tom Chaney.

Yet I was not to taste the victory. The kick of the big pistol sent me reeling backward. I had forgotten about the pit behind me!

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, LaBoeuf, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lucky Ned Pepper
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis: