Literary Analysis Essay On The Road

Confliction Addiction Cormac McCarthy’s The Road portrays a father and son fighting to live every day during a strenuous, apocalyptic time. The novel presents a profound conflict that roots itself inside the depths of human nature depicted by the external conflicts of man versus man and man versus nature. The narrative also represents the internal conflict of man versus self. Throughout the story, the father fights against terrible people in this ghastly time in order to preserve his life and his son’s life symbolizing the conflict of man versus man. Early on, the father and son encounter a pack of roadrats; and they hide in order to avoid enslavement. Despite their concealment, one cannibal of the pack wanders upon them; and an intense standoff occurs. The father says to the savage, “You think I wont kill you but you’re wrong” (65). After the roadrat grabs the son, the father shoots the assailant with one of only three bullets remaining in his gun. Later, a lone man steals everything the father and son possess. The father and son track the thief; another standoff takes place. The father says to the robber, “I’m going to blow your brains out” (256). Ultimately, the father does not kill the bandit; but he repossesses their belongings. These are two of the most intense …show more content…
The story illustrates brutal, unforgiving conditions. When the characters are least prepared, McCarthy writes: “His breath pluming white. Winter was already upon them” (275). The only supplies the father and son have for protection from the weather are parkas, blankets, and a tarp. The duo slowly exhaust their supplies; however, a lifesaving opportunity strikes when they unearth a bunker loaded with provisions. Despite these rations, nature defeats man. The son lives even after contracting a bad cold, yet the father’s cough eventually culminates in his