Chapters 10-13 of No Country for Old Men

This novel did not end like I suspected it would.  I thought that eventually Ed Tom Bell would catch up to Chigurh and possibly kill him.  That would make sense considering how these types of books tend to go, but that was not the case.  The final chapters basically talk about Bell's decision to retire and why he feels that way.

I think the primary motivation for Bell to retire was the fact that he could not uphold his duty to protect the citizens of his county.  Having the unsolved murders on his record was too much for him to handle.  Bell pretty much took the job to make up for leaving his men behind to die.  Not being able to solve the murders eats away at Bell to the point where he has no other choice.

Bell might also be worried about the increasing dangers associated with his job.  He mentions quite a few times throughout the novel that the job is getting more dangerous and that it isn't what it used to be.  He gives specific examples of how people have been killed on the job.  He doesn't think that he would be willing or capable to give his life for the job.  The fact that Chigurh can not be found and that he has killed so many people, including Carla Jean, who had no direct contact with the murders, probably scares Bell.  He might think that Chigurh might try to kill him one day.

I thought it was strange that there is not really a conclusion to Chigurh's character.  The audience is never told what happens to him.  I suppose it is somewhat fitting considering the man that Chigurh is.  He seems like the type of person who could just disappear.