Ely is and old man that the boy has a “soft spot” and asks his dad to stay with them. The dad is very reluctant because he knows that the man is a stranger and he can not trust just anyone around his child. The theory of deterrence once again comes into play because the man needs to decide whether the man is to be trusted around him and his child. The man could turn out to be very dangerous or very friendly. The decision is made depending on what he thinks is best for them. In the story, the man says, You can’t go with us, you know, the man said. He nodded. How long have you been on the road? I was always on the road. You can’t stay in one place. How do you live? I just keep going. I knew this was coming. You knew it was coming? Yeah. This or something like it. I always believed in it” (McCarthy 168). Although the man is friendly, they realize it is best for them if they all go their own
Ely is and old man that the boy has a “soft spot” and asks his dad to stay with them. The dad is very reluctant because he knows that the man is a stranger and he can not trust just anyone around his child. The theory of deterrence once again comes into play because the man needs to decide whether the man is to be trusted around him and his child. The man could turn out to be very dangerous or very friendly. The decision is made depending on what he thinks is best for them. In the story, the man says, You can’t go with us, you know, the man said. He nodded. How long have you been on the road? I was always on the road. You can’t stay in one place. How do you live? I just keep going. I knew this was coming. You knew it was coming? Yeah. This or something like it. I always believed in it” (McCarthy 168). Although the man is friendly, they realize it is best for them if they all go their own