Analysis Of The Road By Cormac Mccarthy

The Road, written by Cormac McCarthy in 2006, is about the journey of a father and son through a post-apocalyptic world. The father and son, referred to as “Boy and Papa” in the book, have to find a way to navigate this new world and the people that come with it. McCarthy shows when in life or death situations people will become only focused on surviving. They often forget morals they have developed and become selfish and only concerned with themselves. Although Boy and and Papa do not eat other Humans, they often run into people who have been ate been others. The First-Floor People, the Pregnant women, and her followers eat others out of necessity in order to survive, not because they want to. “ ‘They are going to kill those people, aren't they?’ said the Boy, ‘Yes’ Papa responded ‘Why do they have to do that’, ‘I don't know’ ‘Are they going to eat them’ said they boy , ‘I don’t know’. They’re going to eat them, aren't they’, ‘Yes’ Papa replied.” (McCarthy 127). The phrase ‘Why do they have to do that’ said by the boy shows his clear disagreement for what the first-floor people are doing. The Boy doesn’t like the fact that the basement people are being eaten and cannot seem to …show more content…
This is shown when Papa says “You tried to kill us”, “You took everything” , and “I’m going to leave you the way you left us” (McCarthy 257). Papa’s morals have been skewed by his determination to survive and that you can’t get attached to other people. The Boy however still has a sense of morality given the fact he wants to share and give food to everyone he feel is in danger on the road. This is shown when the boy says “Papa please don’t kill the man” (McCarthy 256) This constant juxtaposition that is displayed in this quote is present throughout to whole novel, constantly emphasizing the theme of morality in life or death