Cormac McCarthy references the number eight over two dozen times in Blood Meridian. Other numbers reoccur in the text but eight stands out as a significant symbol for its connection to important episodes and imagery in the novel, as well as its implications for larger philosophical themes and motifs.
Given the meticulous way that McCarthy employs specific details, resonant imagery, and symbolism in Blood Meridian, the repeated use of eight invites investigation. At present, eight is an under-explored element within existing scholarship. An overview of McCarthy’s use of eight in Blood Meridian adds color and context to previously-established scholarship relating to Gnosticism, tarot, McCarthy’s narrative approach, and opens new angles for interpreting the philosophy of Blood Meridian, as well as other works.