In times of crisis, everyone needs something to believe in. This is a concept that I believe is evident throughout Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel, The Road. Belief, which all humans have the ability to possess, is all that keeps the protagonists going. I think this because believing in something, whether it be; a God, a Leader or ‘Carrying the Fire’, gives us hope. In times of crisis, this hope could be the only thing that keeps us sane, giving our lives purpose. In The Road, I believe the son’s existence was all that kept the father going. I think the father believed his son was humanity's savior and he was on a divine mission to ensure the boy’s survival — similar to humans worshiping messianic figures — the boy was the father’s
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This is relevant to my thesis; It is something the man believes in. She says, “The urge to abandon hope assaults the Father every day with cruel persistence, making the Boy’s influence essential for his survival.” This is shown when the man says that he, “wishes it was all over (113),” and that the bravest thing he has done was, “getting up this morning (272).” I agree with Carla on this as the father seemed to be somewhat suicidal and the boy was all that kept him going. It is my position that the main reason for this should be the father’s parental love for the boy. In my opinion, the father must ensure the boy’s survival as he and his wife brought the poor boy into the troubled world portrayed in the Road. The least the father can do is keep the boy alive so he can have a half decent shot at living life. Sanchez carries on, “McCarthy’s consistent characterization of the Boy as a messianic figure reveals an interest in the role of divine guidance within the human sphere. The father’s dependence on the Boy exceeds the boundaries of normal parental love. He believes there is a divinely ordained purpose for their relationship, which inspires him to continue living despite his growing depression.” Sadly, I agree with Carla on the boy being the father’s messianic figure. The fact that the father is unable to motivate himself to keep the boy safe purely on parental love is disappointing. With his motivation to live waning, The father resorts to believing in divine guidance. Admittingly, This is better than giving up all hope as it gives him a reason to live and keep the boy healthy. Carla M says that, “In Aquinian terms, the Boy provides a much-needed grace that allows the Man to rise above his “state of corrupted nature,” be healed by God and most importantly perform “meritorious” acts of “supernatural virtue (Aquinas, 1990, p. 655)”. Although I have agreed with all of Sanchez’s
This is relevant to my thesis; It is something the man believes in. She says, “The urge to abandon hope assaults the Father every day with cruel persistence, making the Boy’s influence essential for his survival.” This is shown when the man says that he, “wishes it was all over (113),” and that the bravest thing he has done was, “getting up this morning (272).” I agree with Carla on this as the father seemed to be somewhat suicidal and the boy was all that kept him going. It is my position that the main reason for this should be the father’s parental love for the boy. In my opinion, the father must ensure the boy’s survival as he and his wife brought the poor boy into the troubled world portrayed in the Road. The least the father can do is keep the boy alive so he can have a half decent shot at living life. Sanchez carries on, “McCarthy’s consistent characterization of the Boy as a messianic figure reveals an interest in the role of divine guidance within the human sphere. The father’s dependence on the Boy exceeds the boundaries of normal parental love. He believes there is a divinely ordained purpose for their relationship, which inspires him to continue living despite his growing depression.” Sadly, I agree with Carla on the boy being the father’s messianic figure. The fact that the father is unable to motivate himself to keep the boy safe purely on parental love is disappointing. With his motivation to live waning, The father resorts to believing in divine guidance. Admittingly, This is better than giving up all hope as it gives him a reason to live and keep the boy healthy. Carla M says that, “In Aquinian terms, the Boy provides a much-needed grace that allows the Man to rise above his “state of corrupted nature,” be healed by God and most importantly perform “meritorious” acts of “supernatural virtue (Aquinas, 1990, p. 655)”. Although I have agreed with all of Sanchez’s