When thinking about the theme of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, many subjects come to mind. Throughout the story we see death, violence, and darkness. However, what is the most apparent throughout the story is love. The theme that comes out on top and is the most obvious, is the theme of love conquers all. The love that the little boy and his father share is incepretable. They face so many challenges as they are traveling down the road like, the “bad men,” illnesses, and even mental struggle, but no matter what, they get through it together. There are many different literary elements that McCarthy combines to portray this theme including symbolism, characterization, and setting.
McCarthy uses many different symbols that convey that love conquers all. In fact, the road itself is a symbol. The author describes the road as very barren stating, “Everything pailing away into the murk. The soft ash blowing away in loose …show more content…
It has only two bullets in it, three before the mother tragically took her own life. The bullets are the only thing separating the father and the son from life or death and that is why it is a symbol, it has more complex meaning than just a weapon for self defense. McCarthy writes “If they find you you are going to have to do it. Do you understand? Shh. No crying. Do you hear me? You know how to do it. You put it in your mouth and point it up. Do it quick and hard” (113). Readers discover that the father had taught the boy to kill himself if the need arises so the bad guys could not get him alive and torture him further. The man and son hold the revolver and picture it as if they are the beholders of their own fate. This symbol reflects on the theme by stating that no matter what, the father would do anything for the son. He loved him more than anything in the world and wanted the best for him, even if that meant killing him before the bad guys got the chance
McCarthy uses many different symbols that convey that love conquers all. In fact, the road itself is a symbol. The author describes the road as very barren stating, “Everything pailing away into the murk. The soft ash blowing away in loose …show more content…
It has only two bullets in it, three before the mother tragically took her own life. The bullets are the only thing separating the father and the son from life or death and that is why it is a symbol, it has more complex meaning than just a weapon for self defense. McCarthy writes “If they find you you are going to have to do it. Do you understand? Shh. No crying. Do you hear me? You know how to do it. You put it in your mouth and point it up. Do it quick and hard” (113). Readers discover that the father had taught the boy to kill himself if the need arises so the bad guys could not get him alive and torture him further. The man and son hold the revolver and picture it as if they are the beholders of their own fate. This symbol reflects on the theme by stating that no matter what, the father would do anything for the son. He loved him more than anything in the world and wanted the best for him, even if that meant killing him before the bad guys got the chance