“The Road” is a novel that was published by Cormac McCarthy in 2006. This book is considered a post-apocalyptic (O’Connor, 117). It focuses on a father and son undertaking a grueling journey for months. The Father and his son lived in a destructed world. The novel generally represents a world with a careless society. As the Father and son continued their journey, they encountered different people. Some were violent, while others were left desperate. The author attempts to explore various themes. Some of the themes presented in the novel include humanity, survival, and the association between parents and their children. This paper will explore how the novel’s author has attempted to assess humanity.
The meaning of humanity depends on various contexts. Generally, it may refer to the entire human race, including societies and cultures. Also, humanity means the characteristics that shape humans, such as compassion, creativity, and empathy. In the novel by McCarthy, humanity is portrayed as pessimistic (Abu et al., 34). A post-apocalyptic is the setting used in the novel. The world represented in the novel has been destroyed to the extent that humans have to struggle for them to survive. Different characters are represented as having different experiences. For instance, some are forced to make moral choices that are tough to survive. Various sources have explored how McCarthy portrays humanity.
Several narrative elements have been used to explore humanism, McCarthy. These elements include narrative accounts, character descriptions, and the spatial novel setting. To begin with, the special setting of the novel is a post-apocalyptic world. The events presented in the novel occur in the United States. Various characters in the novel are engaged in a journey where they pass through different settings. Some of them pass through abandoned towns, highways, and forests. The settings are described as eerie or desolate (Abu et al., 34). They contain human civilization remnants that remind readers of what has previously occurred. The element of spatial setting is important in the novel since it portrays a theme of despair and hopelessness. The land in which the characters live makes them feel hopeless. This is because the vitality and beauty of the land have been stripped to make it unpromising to people living there. Therefore, those living on the land must struggle to survive.
The narrative account is the second element the author uses in the novel to assess humanity. The narrative account used shows a world where humanity has been stripped off. The narrative presents a story of a father and his son. The two are forced to make challenging decisions (Abu et al., 38). For instance, the Father and son encountered dangerous and violent individuals on their way. They were to decide whether to help them or them. Helping these individuals would have different consequences. It was risky for the lives of the two. Indeed, helping those on the way could harm them.
On the other hand, failing to help individuals could be considered inhumane. Another instance when the two characters have to decide is to leave a safe place. At various points, the Father and his son came across locations such as safe bunkers and houses. However, they had to decide to leave the safe places without knowing what they would find along their journey. In addition, the Father and son reached a point where they even thought of ending their lives. They claimed that it would be better to die than continue suffering. However, this was a hard decision because committing suicide is against humanity.
How the Father and son are represented in the novel can be compared to the biblical story of Abraham and his son. McCarthy deduced the narrative structure from biblical stories. Most of the stories from the Bible portray positive humanity (Kennedy, 32). For instance, the story of Abraham and his son portrays the sacrificial love for his son. Also, he was faced with a challenging decision. To test the faith of Abraham, God commanded him to sacrifice his only sad. Even though it was hard to make the decision, Abraham obeyed God. Before he made the sacrifice, God provided him with a lamb to offer as the sacrifice instead of sacrificing the child. This story outlines the unimaginable love for God and Abraham’s son. Abraham was ready to do anything for his son if he loved him as his only child.
Like Abraham, the Father in the novel tends to sacrifice everything for his son’s well-being. He was determined to ensure that his child was safe. He also ensured that the child had a chance to survive in a world where humanity had been destroyed (Kennedy, 34). The Father went to the extent of sacrificing his life to protect his son. There are several instances where the Father shows empathy and love to his son. First, the Father searched for food for his son. He scoured abandoned stores and houses to find food and other supplies for his son to survive. He risked his life by finding food in dangerous places. Secondly, the Father protected his son from any harm. He guarded and watched for any threats that would affect his son. He also shielded his son from harm by sending away attackers.
McCarthy also uses some religious aspects to assess humanity in the novel. The region is one of the elements that have helped to shape human culture and history. It equips people with meaning and purpose in their lives and others. Religion also helps people to understand the world. Religious people are also directed toward making the right decisions because they have morals (Kennedy, 35). In the novel, religion is among the elements that the author uses to assess humanity. One of the instances where religion is referenced is the portable altar that the Father carried wherever he went. He used the altar to pray and perform various rituals (Kennedy, 37). This shows that he was religious and had faith in God. Undeniably, most of his decisions were driven by the holy spirit. Therefore, the Father’s actions showed positive humanity. He cared for and protected those around him, including his son.
Christian themes and imagery are also used in the novel. The Father is referred to as “Christ-like .”This is because of his sacrificial love and selflessness for his child. “Pilgrim” is also a term used to refer to the Father (Kennedy, 37). This portrays the journey of faith made by the Father. Even if the journey was challenging, the Father was hopeful and believed he could succeed. The world in which the Father and Son lived doesn’t observe the traditional religious practices nor respect the religious institutions. People worldwide did not attend churches or even had pastors or priests. Instead, characters in this world are presented to care for their interests without having time to worship. This means humanity was destroyed since people must understand the benefits of respecting each other’s culture and values. Lack of religious practices contributed to the acts in the world, such as the destruction of the environment. People were also selfish and didn’t care about the needs of others. Without religion, it was difficult for the world in the novel to promote humanity.
Humanity in the novel is also assessed through the analysis of ethical questions associated with the mortality and conditions of human beings. One of the major questions raised in the novel is whether it was ethical for the Father and son to continue living in a hopeless, destroyed world. This is a crucial question that is also related to humanity. The question is applicable in real-life situations. Some people argue that taking one’s life is better than suffering. This is why some commit suicide instead of living a challenging life.
In the novel, the Father struggles with this question throughout his journey. The Father and son faced a hopeless world (O’Connor, 117). They even reached a point where they couldn’t see the benefits of life. However, the Father acted contrary to what unreligious and unethical people could do. He prayed and believed that God would protect them in the dangerous world. It is ethical to endure suffering as the Father did instead of committing suicide. God is the giver of life. Therefore, He is the only one who should take it back. According to Christianity, people should not commit murder or suicide. There is no situation or condition in that one can take their life. Respecting life is a significant element that promotes humanity. Indeed, the Father and the son in the novel responded to the ethical question by enduring challenges in their journey.
Other questions, such as ethical obligations to other people, also arise from the ethical question of death. Some people may have uncertain and fragile experiences in their lives. The novel helps readers to identify the obligations that others should have to these people. It is ethical to help others solve their problems. On the other hand, watching over others while they are suffering is unethical. For instance, the Father in the novel was involved in helping those with problems. Particularly, he stood with his son regardless of their situation (O’Connor, 119). He was ready to sacrifice his life for his son to survive. Mortal ethics and humanity go hand in hand. It may be difficult to shape our culture and values without practicing good ethics—the author of the novel attempts to assess humanity by identifying the ethical practices of the characters. The Father’s actions were ethically right, while those around him were unpleasant.
The novel McCarthy is interesting and informative. It portrays several themes that apply to real-life situations. The discussion above focuses on one of the themes; humanity. Humanity means the characteristics that shape humans, such as compassion, creativity, and empathy. These characteristics are present in some of the characters but absent in others. The Father is the major character in the novel who has promoted humanity. Most of the actions by the Father are desirable. However, the world in which the Father lives is destroyed by human activities. People have destroyed the beauty of the world. In addition, people in this world are unreligious. They don’t believe in God. Religion, moral ethics, and endurance are some aspects that shape humanity. The author has managed to portray humanity through different characters and activities. Indeed, McCarthy can be considered an outstanding writer.
Works Cited
Kennedy, William. “‘The Road, ‘by Cormac McCarthy.” The New York Times Book Review (2021): 30-59.
O’Connor, Patrick. “Cormac McCarthy, Philosophy and the Physics of the Damned.” Cormac McCarthy, Philosophy and the Physics of the Damned. Edinburgh University Press, 2022. pp. 117-141.
Abu Jweid, Abdalhadi N., and Omar A. Al-HajEid. & Experimental Narrative Structure and the Advent of New Humanism in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road." International Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Translation, vol. 4, no. 12, 2021, pp. 99-107.
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