The Post-Heroic Journey In Mccarthy's The Road

The Road is a post-apocalyptic tale which follows the journey taken by a father and his young son over a period of several months. The pair trek across a landscape blasted by an unspecified cataclysm that has destroyed most of civilization, leaving a barren wasteland full of ash and debris. Although there are a few survivors, without law and order, they must become the indefatigable defenders of their own lives. The will to survive and level of determination depicted by the characters provides McCarthy with the opportunity to create a story of hope and inspiration, however, the tale is solemn and harrowing. Throughout the novel, the father’s primary concern is his son. Although gaunt and ailing, he must fight for their existence. The unconditional …show more content…
On one, the boy is attacked, and the father quickly decides to use one of two bullets to kill the man holding his son at knifepoint: bullets conserved for the pair to commit murder/suicide if the situation became dire. During another, the pair flees a group of marauders on the hunt for their next meal, and while on their journey from one desolate town to the other, nature is their enemy: the cold, violent rains, and earthquakes make their walk impossible. Although the father is dying from some sickness, he often spends valuable energy carrying his son, running away from danger or physically fighting the enemy, at the expense of his own health, to save his boy. At one point, there is an opportunity for the father to gather supplies from a washed up ship, and the boy is left to defend their camp. Unfortunately, everything is stolen because the boy falls asleep, and the two are compelled to expend their strength to track down the man who stole all of their food and gear. Having the boy with him on the perilous road creates more physical and emotional burdens for the father. Not only is it difficult to find the means to sustain himself, but he also must be focused on his son’s safety. However, the unwavering love the father has for the son is the only positive force in his dismal life that motivates the father to continue his journey. When the boy asks his father, “What would you do if I …show more content…
When Moses led the Hebrews to freedom out of clutches of the pharaohs in Egypt, they had to struggle through the barren desert and trust in their leader when he asked them to step into the parted Red Sea, much like the son must trust his father each time they take a step together along the road. McCarthy’s tale also follows the archetypal quest made famous by the mythical stories of Homer. When Odysseus travels for years to return to Ithaca, he loses all of his men, but he is able to overcome some the hardest obstacles with the help of the gods, much like the little boy and father through the light and fire that burns within. Unfortunately, the author’s tale also sadly resonates history. Entire tribes and ethnic groups have been annihilated in Rwanda and Uganda due to genocide, the Bosnians have fled more unspeakable crimes against humanity, and even more recently, we have watched the offenses unfold in Syria: a land once beautiful as a jewel reduced to rubble. Senseless violence and corruption have led to the complete destruction of a country and its people. What is worse than the hundreds of thousands of deaths is the untold horrors that people, who are lucky enough to escape, must endure while on their journey to safer ground. Much like the characters in the novel, they must be consumed with fear, and the threat of starvation, murder, theft, and