Order Versus Freedom
The application of law and order in the Old West was at times bent to accommodate personal relationships and perspectives, though many men felt compelled by a sense of duty to uphold the law. As Rangers, Call, Augustus and the others were tasked with patrolling the border, protecting settlers, and arresting criminals. Call especially took his job seriously. Even in retirement, Augustus points out that Call is a workaholic who requires a sense of danger and duty to keep himself going (Chapter 16). Jake considers how "Call and Gus had been the law themselves and didn’t always bow and scrape to it" in Chapter 6. Being a Ranger still afforded a certain amount of freedom that, for example, being in the Army would not allow. Both Call and Augustus are drawn to this sense of freedom.
There are several instances in which those tasked to uphold the law decide not to do so. One such example is July Johnson's initial decision not to go after Jake Spoon for accidentally killing Ben Johnson. July only sets out in search of Jake after being pressured by Ben's widow, Peach. But July later abandons the search in order to look for his missing wife. Another example where a lawman decides whether or not to punish a lawbreaker occurs in Chapter 42 when a San Antonio sheriff refuses to arrest Augustus on account of his being an old friend and fellow ex-Ranger.
Obsolescence
Duty, excitement, and honor defined Augustus and Call's experiences as Texas Rangers. More than anything else, they felt the sense of being needed during a time of great historical transformation in America. Lonesome Dove takes place in the late 1870s, which approaches the end of the Wild West era. Call patrols the San Antonio River every night despite there being aware "that Lonesome Dove had long since ceased to need guarding" (Chapter 2). Retirement particularly impacts Call by making his life "smaller and a good deal more dull," but even Augustus is bothered by their shrinking importance in the national consciousness (Chapter 2). When an insolent bartender insults them in Chapter 42, Augustus breaks the man's nose. According to Call, Augustus enjoys "having been a famous Texas Ranger and was often put out if he didn’t receive all the praise he thought he had coming."
Call's need to have a mission in life motivates the journey to Montana in the first place.
Unusual Gender Roles
While McMurtry describes the social norms that govern men and women in the 1870s, he also touches on deviations from these norms. When Lorena is abducted, abused by her captors, and later saved by Augustus, this exemplifies the typical damsel in distress trope that often appears in Western stories. Whereas this might be the entire plotline of another Western, McMurtry moves beyond this section of the plot by Chapter 58. This gives room to develop Augustus and Lorena's characters as well as their relationship.
Despite the pressure for men not to exhibit strong emotions beyond anger and pride, numerous men cry throughout the novel. The young Irishman Sean O'Brien cries due to being homesick and missing his dead mother, which makes all the other men uncomfortable. Newt cries nearly every time he is separated from the outfit or when one of his companions dies. Even Augustus is moved to tears in Chapter 44 when he visits the place where he used to picnic with Clara. Later on in the novel, Clara tells her daughters that "men have tears in them too," which is an unusual perspective for the time (Chapter 77).
Clara herself exemplifies unusual traits for a woman of the time and place in which she lives. Her independence, outspokenness, and sharp wit draw others to her (men and women alike). When her husband Bob falls into a coma after being kicked in the head by a horse, Clara takes over the business. Not only does she handle financial matters, but she herself enjoys caring for the horses.
Civilization Versus Nature
The novel begins with a quote discussing the conflicting ways that civilization and nature impact American consciousness. According to the English professor Thomas Whipple (quoted in the epigraph), "Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers." This sets the tone for the entire book, and opens questions such as who the plural first person "we" refers to. As Rangers, Augustus and Call contributed to building a civilization made of white European settlers and their descendants on Indigenous land. But even Augustus and Call have mixed feelings about the growth of this civilization since it means that they themselves are becoming obsolete. This is partly what drives Call to set out for Montana in the first place: he desires to see the pristine land before civilization, as he understands it, arrives. In this way, the idea of the American frontier is construed both geographically and psychologically. Though Call in particular believes in the project of American expansion and civilization, he is somewhat nostalgic for the times he considers pre-civilized.
The Changing American Landscape
As the Hat Creek outfit makes their way north toward Montana, Augustus, Call, and the others witness a changing landscape. This is particularly apparent to the older members of the outfit who traveled through the territories years before. For example, Augustus comments on how drastically the buffalo herds have been wiped out in Chapter 54. The sight of buffalo bones piled to towering heights shocks Augustus, who thinks that "with those millions of animals gone, and the Indians mostly gone in their wake, the great plains were truly empty, unpeopled and ungrazed" (Chapter 54). But here, Augustus knows that he is seeing an interim before European settler colonialism and society extends to this particular region. Similarly, Call is determined to settle in Montana before it changes forever as a result of American expansion.
Love and Relationships
Love—including romantic, platonic, and unrequited—plays an integral role in Lonesome Dove. Augustus and Call's friendship could be considered the central relationship in the novel. For 30 years, they fought, lived, and worked alongside one another despite their extreme differences. Whereas Augustus is loquacious, social, and carefree, Call is demanding, restrained, and serious. During those three decades together, Call only considered separating from Augustus once when the latter pushed him to emotionally support a sex worker named Maggie. Augustus himself married twice and often seeks relations with sex workers, but he still loves a woman named Clara Allen. Clara herself disapproves of Augustus and Call's relationship, telling Call that it was primary factor in her decision not to marry Augustus. From Clara's perspective, Augustus and Call enable the worst in each other (Chapter 101).
When Augustus dies, Call's purpose in life begins to unravel. He loses interest in work despite having gone all the way to Montana to establish a ranch. Unable to bridge the distance between himself and Newt by claiming the boy as his son, Call instead prioritizes fulfilling his promise to his dead friend by taking Augustus's body to be buried in Texas.
Other notable relationships in the novel are defined by unrequited love. For example, July Johnson chases after his wife Elmira despite her clearly not wanting him. On a similar note, the cowhand Dish is hopelessly in love with Lorena, but she feels nothing in return.
The Rugged Individual
Call somewhat embodies the idea of rugged individualism, a prominent archetype enshrined in the American mythos. He strives to be self-reliant and keep his instincts honed in order to lead other men. Even in retirement, Call cannot sit still, and the extremely difficult endeavor of driving cattle to Montana and starting a ranch appeals to him precisely because of its challenge. Call is also motivated to settle in Montana before others do, demonstrating the values of personal liberty and minimal outside (especially governmental) authority. These values help construct the concept of rugged individualism.
Though a natural leader, Call at times chafes against this role and seeks time in solitude. His stoic outlook on life influences many of the men under his command, such as Pea Eye and Newt.
