The ROad Themes 222

Three themes Love, Survival, Fear

Love: The man and his son have a very close bond it is one that comes from both the love of a parent and child as well as the intensity of their surroundings. Each day is a struggle for them and the need to protect is a constant part of this. For the man his son is all he has in this world the love he feels for him is so intense he would do anything to keep him safe. "You wanted to know what the bad guys looked like now you know. It may happen again. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by god. I will kill anyone who touches you. Page 77" This quote is taken from after the man has killed one of the so called "bad guys" after he attempted to take the boy. His intensity in this statement is scary to the young boy however it is meant to show how powerful the bond of love between them is.
Survival: The book itself is a story of survival however so much can be said for this that it is hard to truly see. As the two walk across the desolate land they have nothing left and surrounding them is nothing however they keep going. Trying to live for just another day is the ultimate goal here and for both the man and the boy pushing through feelings of doubt, illness and depression are a daily task. " You think were going to die dont you? I dont know. Were not going to die. Okay. But you dont believe me. I dont know." As the man tries to convince his young son that they will survive he also tries to convince himself he too fears death and the need to live is something he often forgets. At this point in the book it could be said that they are surviving by clinging to dirt with fingernails despratly crawling to get up.
Fear: Fear is a theme seen mostly in the boy he seems to reflect the fear of both himself and the man taking on the role of logic as well. Each day is filled with terror and uncertanty although for them it is so much more. A daily cloud follows them haunting with a constant reminder of the fear that lurks behind. The boy who often speaks of his fears has trouble pulling past them in order to get somewhere however tying into survival the two are a natural instict.

Essay Question:
Within the road the idea of an empty planet is shown in this world morals have been forgotten. Tell how this effects the world and how the need to surrvive would overcome any other thought.