Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Road Part 1
In the novel I am currently reading, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, the main character is the nameless man simply named The Man. The Man is accompanied by his nameless son named The Boy, as they journey across the United States in the post-apocalyptic land to the east coast. The purpose of this journey is to find resources after the world has been destroyed by an unknown disaster that wiped out most of the living beings. All they have is each other and a cart full of basic survival needs. My first impression of the main character, The Man, is that he is a caring person that takes care of and protects his son, and is determined to reach the east coast no matter what the circumstances are. The man is a relatable character as he is related to a lot the the parents or single parents in the world. In the book, despite all the limited resources such as food and shelter, The Man still prioritize his son's needs and wants before he can tend his own. For example, when The Man found a can of Coke that he hasn't seen for years, he gave it to his son instead of keeping it to himself. He even refused to drink some when his son offered to let him have some. The Man wants his son to enjoy it since it he knows it could be the last time they will ever see another can of Coke. As the story progresses, the bond between The Man and The Boy will grow stronger as they take care and tend each other's needs since they will be all alone in the world without each other. Also, on their journey to the east coast, they will face a lot of challenges such as scarce amount of food, shelter, and the cold weather that they must overcome in order to reach the east coast. But they have the unconditional love and support from each other that will keep them motivated to reach their goal.
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Hey Andrew!
ReplyDeleteYour novel seems very interesting, especially with the post-apocalyptic setting. It reminds me of Will Smith's I Am Legend (sorry blog doesn't allow me to underline). That movie describes the journey of Will Smith and his dog fighting off zombies after humanity has been destroyed. Will Smith, just like The Man, often gives goods to his dog first before helping himself. There's a sense of selflessness that I think should be respected and recognized by people in our generation. Nowadays, our world has become 'everyman for himself'. Many people, especially with the idea of capitalism in the States, don't share their wealth with the less fortunate. I admit, as Canadians, we fall in that category. We rarely pause to think about the struggling villages in undeveloped countries like Kenya or Congo. We are drowned in this idea that wealth is good, that LV bags are a necessity...Anyway, I am really glad that you brought up the importance of The Man ignoring his own need and letting The Boy drink Coke. I can't wait to see your next post!
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog, I think I'm interested in reading your book! The time period and how everyone is wiped out really draws me in. Also, I wonder what the deeper meaning is for naming the man "the man", and the son "the son". Is it because everyone is gone except for them, which means that their identity has perished along with the others? As the story progresses, the father and the son's love for each other will become stronger, but will they also begin to gain an identity along the way? To continue, I really admire the father's unconditional love for his son, and how the end of the world does not mean that his love for his son also ends. Instead, the world ending only brings them closer together and strengthens their bond.
Your novel definitely seems to convey a very sterile atmosphere, one devoid of all traces of emotion. The images and descriptions evoke a sense of a gloomy world, where the colors that once spilled from the natural courses of human lives seem to have become completely erased, leaving only a colorless remnant of this once vibrant school of interactive development. The nameless man and son, in this respect, are representative of dehumanization. Names are synecdoches of self-determination and individual uniqueness. Thus, the lack of names demonstrate the difference between the novel's setting and our familiar experiences. However, these are the characteristics of the setting, which contrasts sharply with the happenstances and narrative. The generosity that The Man demonstrates is a symbol of human kindness, a conspicuous differentiation with the lack of human qualities depicted by the environment. The author's purpose in establishing this evident contrast is to make apparent the importance of human nature and behaviour. An erosion of human qualities will bring about an undesired outcome. In addition, through presenting human interactions amidst a lonely, dying world, Cormac McCarthy emphasizes the necessity of social and interpersonal connections in life.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Did you notice that the title of the book "The Road" could possibly be alluding to or complimenting the titles of the characters, "The Man" and The Son"?
Hey Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYour book seems very interesting. It reminds me of the movie “The War of the Worlds”, in which our world is invaded and destroyed by aliens, and a father, who is willing to sacrifice everything for his child, goes on a journey to bring his daughter to safety. Both the protagonist from your book and the father in the movie are depicted as unyielding and determined characters. But the most sympathetic and moving part of their personality is their care and sense of protection for their child. In your portrayal of your characters, I can sense the strong bond that connects the father and son.
It is also very interesting how the characters in your book are anonymous and are referred to as “The Man” and “The Boy”. I feel that it show how the world has deprived everything from them: their home, their safety, and even their names. Yet no matter what adversity they face and how little they posses, they still remain strongly bonded to each other and will never be broken apart. I really hope that in the end they can reach the east coast safely and be able to start a new life together.
Hey Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYoue analysis has caught my eye. I might consider reading it. You brought up some important issues about your book, like striving to survive and putting others needs before your own. Just like Teddy said, this reminds me of the movie I Am Legend, too. (Sorry, I can't underline, either.) I don't think I would be able to survive on my own, let alone without any resources. The character, The Man, is a very selfless, loving and strong character. I wonder why he is called, "The Man?"