Examples Of Goodness In The Road

Whether moral goodness is a gift that is taught or a gift that you are born with is a question that has been circling society for a long period of time. In The Road, the question of moral goodness appears once again. In the novel,the example that the boy gives presents evidence that goodness is something that one possess innately. The boy gives this example through his reactions to his dad's actions, his willingness to help others no matter his own situation, and the innocence that he was able to keep throughout the novel.
Moral and ethical goodness is not something that can be taught, it is a gift that one possess innately. Throughout The Road the boy shows his goodness through his reactions to his dad’s decisions. An example being when …show more content…
When interacting with majority of these people the boy shows the desire to help them; no matter if there could be potential danger involved in the situation. For instance, the boy and the man are at a house searching for food. While the man is searching the boy is sitting on the front steps of the house. While sitting on the steps he sees another little boy. So, he calls out to him. His father hears him and quickly runs outside. The man scolds the boy and they leave the house. The boy starts crying. The man asks him if he wants to die. In which, the boy replies, “I don't care, the boy said, sobbing. I don't care” (McCarthy 85). This quote shows the boys goodness by his willingness to even die to help this little boy. It shows the risk he is willing to take to provide a service, whether big or small, to someone in need. This entire scene in the novel is about the boys reaction for the other little boy. He is worried for his safety, whether he has someone to take care of him. The boy is sad for the other little boy. The man’s reaction to the boy yelling out to the other little boy was the complete opposite. The man’s reaction shows that he is more focused on the survival of himself and the