‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy and ‘Children of Men’ by Alfanso Cuaron are two texts which are set in an apocalyptic scenario with a prominent threat to the overall existence of the human race. In ‘Children of Men’ the threat of global infertility impends towards the extermination of humans whilst in ‘The Road’ the lack of resources and widespread cannibalism leaves everyone’s life at risk. Breaking the trend of infertility, “Children of Men’ tells of story of a ‘saviour child’ which becomes the first baby born in 18 years whilst ‘The Road’ follows the story of a man with his ‘son’ depicted as the one who will continue the civilisation. In both texts, the overall reaction to social breakdown and impending extinction is carried out in similar
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Nevertheless, both texts display the human tendency to remain optimistic even in times of uncertainty, this can be established with the way in which the symbolic nature of the ocean is painted as a beacon of hope.
It seems that, in both texts, the vacuum in power is filled by the most brutal and violent. Children of Men displays the effects of the ruthless and inhumane policies of the extreme right-wing government, leading to malicious and ferocious treatment of refugees. One scene exhibits and shows this horrible treatment through close angle shots of asylum seekers locked up in cages screaming out for help. The dim use of lighting extends this frame of mind as the audience connects to the depressing and helpless scenario. The way in which the asylum seekers were treated diminished their status to that of an animal and deprives them of their dignity. This reiterates that they are of no worth and don’t deserve to be treated humanely as they aren’t ‘truly-human.’ The scene is followed by a point-of-view shot of Theo from the back seat of an expensive limousine illustrating that he is separate, superior and exceptional as he is richer and a native Briton. Cuaron …show more content…
As the events unfold and the end of world seems near, the characters demonstrate a persistent attitude, concurring they will never give up. McCarthy and Cuaron both display characters approaching the coast or the ocean. The ocean is represented as a beacon of hope, the light at the end of the tunnel. The father and son in ‘The Road’ believe that reaching the ocean is the cure for their pessimism: it is portrayed as their ‘prize’ for the long journey. In one section the father answers the son’s questions about the ocean saying “is it blue? Not always”. The father deeply holds the belief that the ocean is where their purpose, company and faith can be discovered and revived. It is depicted as the very last resort when everywhere else seems glim and has nothing to offer. However in another section upon reaching the coast, they discover it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be. They stay their while he works to keep a fire going and examines their food for anything suspicious. The use of fire imagery is noticeable in this section, referring numerous times to how the father is persistent to renew the flame. This physical use of fire metaphorically signifies the fire that he and the boy talk about resounding within them. The father struggles to sustain his inner ‘fire’ whilst keeping his son alive, and McCarthy uses the
Nevertheless, both texts display the human tendency to remain optimistic even in times of uncertainty, this can be established with the way in which the symbolic nature of the ocean is painted as a beacon of hope.
It seems that, in both texts, the vacuum in power is filled by the most brutal and violent. Children of Men displays the effects of the ruthless and inhumane policies of the extreme right-wing government, leading to malicious and ferocious treatment of refugees. One scene exhibits and shows this horrible treatment through close angle shots of asylum seekers locked up in cages screaming out for help. The dim use of lighting extends this frame of mind as the audience connects to the depressing and helpless scenario. The way in which the asylum seekers were treated diminished their status to that of an animal and deprives them of their dignity. This reiterates that they are of no worth and don’t deserve to be treated humanely as they aren’t ‘truly-human.’ The scene is followed by a point-of-view shot of Theo from the back seat of an expensive limousine illustrating that he is separate, superior and exceptional as he is richer and a native Briton. Cuaron …show more content…
As the events unfold and the end of world seems near, the characters demonstrate a persistent attitude, concurring they will never give up. McCarthy and Cuaron both display characters approaching the coast or the ocean. The ocean is represented as a beacon of hope, the light at the end of the tunnel. The father and son in ‘The Road’ believe that reaching the ocean is the cure for their pessimism: it is portrayed as their ‘prize’ for the long journey. In one section the father answers the son’s questions about the ocean saying “is it blue? Not always”. The father deeply holds the belief that the ocean is where their purpose, company and faith can be discovered and revived. It is depicted as the very last resort when everywhere else seems glim and has nothing to offer. However in another section upon reaching the coast, they discover it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be. They stay their while he works to keep a fire going and examines their food for anything suspicious. The use of fire imagery is noticeable in this section, referring numerous times to how the father is persistent to renew the flame. This physical use of fire metaphorically signifies the fire that he and the boy talk about resounding within them. The father struggles to sustain his inner ‘fire’ whilst keeping his son alive, and McCarthy uses the