Empathy In The Road By Cormac Mccarthy

The Road to Resilience
By Danika Duguid
In times of adversity, individuals faced with hardship tend to turn to their peers looking for comfort, guidance, and support from those who possess wisdom and experience. Traditionally, this is seen in society as an obligation or responsibility of parents because of how important empathy is. However, presented by "The Road" written by Cormac McCarthy, is a world so extreme that neither the father nor his son protagonists have experienced, leaving them to rely on each other's empathy to build the strength to survive the post-apocalyptic world. After choosing to stay on the treacherous road, they both learn the importance of trust, morals, and sensibility. Having compassionate and supportive role models

However, in this world, there is a fight for survival with limited resources, making clean water and food rare. So, with the father providing these small treats and with an effort for the boy to devour the entirety with surprise, the boy makes a promise that they share. This shows that they both look out for each other on the road, and if they break these little promises, how can there be any trust? The boy has quickly grown to understand the severity of the experience and the strength required for

When individuals are familiar with the feeling of compassion and support, they can use that as strength to face conflict. In The Road, the son has been thoroughly exposed to love and support and has even provided strangers with the same care while being constantly in a threatening environment. Knowing that in any instance, he could be caught by the rebels and then suffer or be killed, he has developed skills to stay positive and continue on. Even after all the struggles of starvation, the positivity and hope lead them to the jackpot. They even survive the cold after losing the light before finding the bunker. Experiencing all of these hardships while being prey to other humans has led him to a new confidence level to trust others and use empathy to overcome things like holding the gun when his father leaves. He has also stood up for himself in advocating for his morals. He has grown up and learned from his father that being scared is not a bad thing; it can protect you by keeping you on the lookout. And with all the other skills the father states before he died, that he is ready as long as he "keeps the fire," showing that he has grown and matured in this environment a lot, and that he is able to continue without his father. That last line has shown the son that he has his father's trust and belief that he will make it. In the end, when the boy meets the family that has been following him, he makes