The Road

One of the more prevalent ideas for the characters in the novel is the idea that they are the “good guys.” The two main characters encounter countless atrocities and acts of evil while they travel on “the road” and while they are occasionally forced to do things that they dislike they set themselves apart from the roving groups of cannibals and murderers by never being the aggressors and by helping others even when it is not in their favor to do so. The boy is more often the instigator of the acts of charity but in the end it is his father that always decides whether or not they will help someone or leave them behind to fend for themselves. Neither of the characters is selfish about the things that they own, which is another difference between them and the groups of people that steal and kill for the small amount of things that other travelers carry with them. Both characters have their own set of goals. The father’s main goal is to protect his son even when it is detrimental to his own health. The father often tries to give his son more food than he eats himself and when they come across amenities that they lack or when there is only enough for one of them (a soda, hot cocoa, etc.) the father often tries to get his son to eat or drink all of it without taking any for himself. The son often sees through the ruses that his father attempts and refuses to sample the item unless they both get some of whatever it is. The son often has a different opinion about what they should do when they see other travelers in need. While the father tries not to approach others unless necessary, the son often wants to help when he sees a person that is in need. The son is more concerned for others than he is for himself, his father especially while his father is more concerned with keeping his son away from danger. One of the main ideas behind being “the good guys” is that they “carry the fire.” It is never explained what “the fire” is but it is implied that it is the goodness of people that is lacking in the dark world they live in. Their world is dark both literally and figuratively, the sky is filled with ash and the majority of the remnants of humanity are alive because they have killed and taken the things and flesh of others. It can be said that for the man and his son “the fire” is a symbol of hope for a bright future where they don’t find it necessary to fight with others for the meager remains of a dead civilization. While the two characters often try to do what is right they are also trying to survive which is the main reason that they often run from others even though they try to say that they are also on the lookout for other “good guys.” It isn’t until the final pages that it is even acknowledged that there are others people that want to help others. (528)