And Punctuation In Cormac Mccarthy's The Road

Register to read the introduction… The son warns his father, “I have to watch you all the time” (39). When the father promises to take food, but later refuses it to give to the boy, the son urges, “If you break little promises, you’ll break big ones”(39) Without it being presented in the narration, conversation between the two alludes to man’s promise to not leave him alone in the world. The boy is basically saying the man may not keep that promise either, thus foreshadowing to the end of the story when the father dies and leaves the son to continue without him. The son’s sense of independence is relayed through dialogue when he boasts, “We have to be vigilant” (183) after his father warns him about other people that may be “carrying the fire” (183). The dialogue shows the boy’s growing sense of independence as the story goes on, and how he progressively needs his father less and …show more content…
(Maslin) McCarthy's placement of the word "okay" gives readers a break from the otherwise harsh language used throughout the novel through narration. Similarly, the word "okay" adds dramatic effect to the story by giving readers the chance to reflect on the dark topics and memorable moments between characters. Ending conversations with the word "okay" adds reassurance to the man and son's relationship and supports the evident fact that they have a deep love and devotion to each other without saying those exact words outright.
In a world left with nothing, words are basically all the man and son have remaining. Hence, In this sense, the word "okay" serves as a "signature" on a verbal contract. The father and son agree, "There is no other deal. This is it. Okay. Okay"(165). On the road, there are no remnants of handshakes, documents, or other pre-apocalyptic, worldly agreements. When the man and son come across Ely in the story, the father informs him, “Okay means okay. It doesn't mean we negotiate another deal …show more content…
Though never verbally saying the words “I love you”, the father and son’s undeniable love is expressed through stark dialogue. Apocalyptic imagery is crafted through the use of religious terminology as well as vivid, yet minimalistic narrated descriptions.
The lack of punctuation and even names used throughout The Road augments and mirrors the simple, disorganized life and solitary conditions of the main characters’ journey. Through the use of the simple, unembellished statements and questions that make up the characters’ interaction and conversation, McCarthy gives the reader a clear sense of the undying tenderness and devotion that lives and grows between father and son in the face of impossible odds, without saying much of anything at