Cormac Mccarthy The Road Analysis

In the novel, The Road, Cormac McCarthy relates the accounts of a man and his boy as they progress through the post-apocalyptic world with hopes to survive and overcome their struggles (trounce their tussles). Throughout their journey south, the man and the boy face many problems that arise which include surviving in a cannibalistic society and a shortage of food, to the extent that his primary goal is “food. Always food” (17). The man and boy persevere through these obstacles using the man’s experience and knowledge to keep them alive. Despite the physical travel the man and boy experience, the man has to protect the boy as well as continue to give him hope. The man believes it is his duty to keep “God’s own firedrake” (31) of hope and goodness safe from the physical, mental, and emotional horrors of the godforsaken world. However, the man and his wife cannot protect the boy from all pain and do hurt the boy whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally with good intentions. McCarthy exhibits the underlying theme throughout The Road that it is sometimes better to hurt loved ones in order to help them through diction,

Despite the man’s survival knowledge and skills, hope is the engine that drives them to continue on their arduous journey. As the man and the boy reach the ocean, the man “could see the disappointment in the boy’s face” (215) when they finally reached the ocean. As McCarthy bespeaks through muted imagery, the ocean wasn't blue, it wasn't pretty, but rather “vast and cold” (215) without hope. Before finally leaving the beach, the boy suggests they “write a letter to the good guys” (245) with hope someone will find and help them. Unintentionally discrediting the boy’s idea, the man implores “what if the bad guys saw it?” (245), immediately sensing the hurt in the boy’s “yeah” and regretting his brisk response. However, the man was protecting the boy and not reducing the risk of getting into