The award-winning novel, The Road, written by Cormac McCarthy, portrays the man’s unconditional love for his son in the post-apocalyptic world. At first glance, the novel portrays a hopeless, desolate ambience and elements of despair seem to greatly outweigh elements of hope throughout the novel. Upon further analysis of the text, it is evident that McCarthy uses symbols to portray unconditional love and hope, thus making The Road a novel of hope. Throughout the novel, there is a constant battle between good and bad. This is shown through McCarthy’s portrayal of the good guys and the bad guys, which are mentioned several times in the book (McCarthy 103). Even with the brutal acts the bad guys commit and the harsh conditions of the world in
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In many instances, the boy pushes the man to help people they see along the way on the road. Even though the man continues to reject the boy’s pleas, the boy continues to have a kind heart for everyone. The boy is very young and has encountered situations that grown adults in today’s world could never fathom experiencing. Even through this, the boy continues to “carry the fire” and is a “bringer of light in the darkness” that overcomes the world (McCarthy 83; Sanchez). The boy eventually “adopts a leadership role” over the man and encourages the man to “preserve a charitable spirit in McCarthy’s amoral wasteland” (Sanchez). Due to the boy’s innocence and naivete, he is unaware of what harm people could do to him if he puts his guard down and is kind to them. The man sees the boy’s heart of compassion as a symbol of hope for a “communal rebirth” and the boy’s “divine aura” serves to “ensure the moral preservation of the father” (Sanchez). These characteristics of the boy represent a symbol of hope throughout the book, and his innocence shows that hope does remain for humanity to be restored through love and compassion.
Throughout The Road, McCarthy uses symbols to portray unconditional love and hope, thus making The Road a novel of hope. In the post-apocalyptic environment the man and the boy live in, hope is found in the darkest of places. Even through trials and tribulations, the father and son remain optimistic throughout their journey. In certain sections of the book, it seems as though elements of despair greatly outweigh elements of hope. This is an observation of the book based on first glance; further examination of the text shows that elements of hope are
In many instances, the boy pushes the man to help people they see along the way on the road. Even though the man continues to reject the boy’s pleas, the boy continues to have a kind heart for everyone. The boy is very young and has encountered situations that grown adults in today’s world could never fathom experiencing. Even through this, the boy continues to “carry the fire” and is a “bringer of light in the darkness” that overcomes the world (McCarthy 83; Sanchez). The boy eventually “adopts a leadership role” over the man and encourages the man to “preserve a charitable spirit in McCarthy’s amoral wasteland” (Sanchez). Due to the boy’s innocence and naivete, he is unaware of what harm people could do to him if he puts his guard down and is kind to them. The man sees the boy’s heart of compassion as a symbol of hope for a “communal rebirth” and the boy’s “divine aura” serves to “ensure the moral preservation of the father” (Sanchez). These characteristics of the boy represent a symbol of hope throughout the book, and his innocence shows that hope does remain for humanity to be restored through love and compassion.
Throughout The Road, McCarthy uses symbols to portray unconditional love and hope, thus making The Road a novel of hope. In the post-apocalyptic environment the man and the boy live in, hope is found in the darkest of places. Even through trials and tribulations, the father and son remain optimistic throughout their journey. In certain sections of the book, it seems as though elements of despair greatly outweigh elements of hope. This is an observation of the book based on first glance; further examination of the text shows that elements of hope are