Cormac McCarthy: The Road

Father and son walk across the cold and wretched post-apocalyptic world carrying only pieces of a map, a revolver and two bullets and whatever they are able to find from deserted villages and cities on their ‘road’. The story is a one about despair and universal nightmare – the world that ceased to exist – but at the same time it is brutal and terrifying, it is a beautiful story about hope and humanity.

Throughout the wearing wandering the boy and father go through short conversations about their own place in the world that is left with an extraordinary tenderness; for the father the son is his warrant to live. And for the son carrying the fire symbolizes them being the good guys.

They sat by the side of the road and ate the last of the apples.

What is it? The man said.

Nothing.

We’ll find something to eat.  We always do.

The boy didn’t answer. The man watched him.

That’s not it, is it.

It’s okay.

Tell me.

The boy looked away down the road.

I want you to tell me. It’s okay.

He shook his head.

Look at me, the man said.

He turned and looked. He looked like he’d been crying.

Just tell me.

We wouldn’t ever eat anybody, would we?

No. Of course not.

Even if we were starving?

We’re starving now.

You said we weren’t.

I said we weren’t dying. I didn’t say we weren’t starving.

But we wouldn’t.

No. We wouldn’t.

No matter what.

No. No matter what.

Because we’re the good guys.

Yes.

And we’re carrying the fire.

And we’re carrying the fire.  Yes.

Okay.