The road had many biblical allusions that were confusing. The author suggested that the apocalypse was caused by religious conflict, however religion is also what distinguishes the boy and man, who are good, from the cannibals. The child could arguably be an allegory for Christ; he is giving and often said to have the word of god from his father. But why don’t we view the world from his perspective if he is this important figure, why is it only the fathers ideas that are highlighted? Perhaps it’s because Macarthy is focusing on religion’s effect on people rather than the religion itself. Maybe by portraying Christ as a simple innocent child who just gives hope to his father keeping him on the road shows how religion should go back to basics. Although this story is grim, this simple religion that rose from the ashes of destructive religion gives hope for a new beginning.
The road also discussed good vs. evil in the road and it’s very clear whose good and who’s evil. But in real life it’s not that clear there is good and evil in all of us. Its much more difficult to escape or conquer evil in yourself than if its external. What was interesting was the good were portrayed as weak who were just trying to escape the cold and the cannibals. If you compare this to Beowulf which is also about good vs. evil the good confront the evil and are victorious over them. But McCarthy criticizes overly fantasized heroes by creating a world in which there are none and the heroes are just those who don’t do bad. He is saying when the world has no heroes survival and running away is the new bravery.
I also thought the idea of fire as an idea of hope and love and humanity was interesting. I would have thought light would symbolize hope better, in a more idyllic way at least. But macarthy chooses fire over light to critically look at hope. Fire can burn it’s dangerous but it also keeps you warm. It’s something you have to control to keep from getting out of hand and you have to keep it burning simultaneously. He says if you’re not careful with hope you’ll be burned. For example the son is naive and hopeful of humans, and if his father let him talk to everyone he would have be eaten, so we should not be too hopeful. But if there was no hope the father and son wouldn’t survive. Like you have to maintain a fire to keep it burning you has to maintain your moral values as well meaning self discipline and faith thats how the man stays on the road. Also fire is something you have to make yourself, unlike light which is given to you from the sky, showing how this world and the heavens gives them no love or hope so they have only each other. McCarthy illustrates how much effort it takes to maintain hope, humanity, and love but like fire its necessary for survival.
I like how you explained the allusion within the book- I too found it slightly confusing- especially clear now is the symbol of the fire that the boy carries. I hadn't thought about the fire being both dangerous and good.
ReplyDeleteThere was one thing that I'm not quite sure I understand or agree with. You say that The Road discusses good verses evil and it's clear who's who and what's what- different from real life. However, I thought that the point of The Road was to say how goodness is not so clearly defined, and is a gray area (much like the setting of the book). Although we know that the cannibals are bad and that the father and son are good, the people they come across are not so black and white. The thief who steals their goods could be considered "evil", but later we find that he was just trying to survive- and the boy wants to help him anyways. Are we to condone the thief for his human instinct? The old man the boy feeds does nothing evil, but neither is he good- he would prefer to live in solitude, and wouldn't have helped the boy out. Does this take away his goodness or make him bad? Even the father, who would not even consider things that the boy finds wrong and evil, is sometimes wrong. Again, the father is not always good, but is not evil either. I think this emphasizes that there is no clear line to separate goodness from evil- much like reality. In situations similar to "The Road", (which are plenty in our world- although not on such a great scale), there is room for forgiveness and mistakes. Like the boy, we must try our best to be "good"- but we will much more likely end up like the father or the old man. Sometimes there is no right and wrong- we must try and make the best judgment and decision we can. For many problems there are many situations- and most of them hard. The fire that the father and son carry with them could even represent this grey area. Something beautiful and moral can also be dangerous and hurtful. It is up to us as humans to decide what to do.
in response to adrienne
ReplyDeletei see what you mean about some obscurity, but in general its pretty clear who carries the fire and who doesnt.its clear who is dominated by thier evil side and who isnt. i dont quite get what you mean by saying but we end up like the fire or the old man, they seem good. i understand how you question the condoning of survival instincts,its hard to blame them for trying to live but we clearly know that what thier doing is wrong and evil and thats the point i was going for being able to identify the evil and good, not questioning the justification of it.justification is an interesting question but i dont think mcarthy wanted us to see any justification for the cannibals he didnt portray them as human at all just monsters, i think thier purpose was to warn us humanities darkness.