Freedom Of Expression In Bram Stoker's The Road

Many people often applaud the idea of freedom of choice and expression as it stands as one of the cornerstones of individuality. However, the negative effects of acting on one’s desires are often overlooked. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Stoker explores the idea that freedom of expression does not exist as an exclusively positive idea through the actions of the characters. Throughout the novel, the vampires continually act on their desires and wants while the protagonists act on their duties and moral principles. This distinction between the uncontrolled desires of the vampires and the duty-driven actions of the protagonists reveals the primary theme of the novel: the freedom to express and act on your desires can often have unforetold consequences.
Stoker most clearly …show more content…
In the novel, the Man and the Boy travel across the wilderness to reach the coast as the Man protects his son from the many dangers they face. Throughout their journey, the Man proves his willingness to kill, starve, and survive in order to care for his son. The first aspect that the Man sacrifices for his son becomes his moral compass as he kills multiple times in order to protect his son. When the Man from the Trucks threatens the Boy, the Man unhesitatingly kills him using their limited number of bullets (McCarthy 55). Though the Man seems to have no qualms with shooting the Man from the Trucks, he refuses to “face the truth” concerning his actions (McCarthy 68). This displays the internal moral dilemma the Man faced concerning his actions. However, the Man proves his willingness to kill others more than once: he shoots another man near the end of the novel when he feels his family may be in danger. This continued will to kill in order to protect his son reveals the Man’s willingness to sacrifice his own morality for his loved