Final Essay

Cormac McCarthy in his book "The Road" describes a world without hope, without a hugely complicated plot. A generic title, nameless protagonists, McCarthy delivers a  novel in which the reader has to survive through adversity just as the father son duo do.

"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days." -Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933

This speech has resonated for over 70 years. With it, FDR is issuing a declaration of war on fear. The father in "The Road" does too in a sense to keep his son safe and unafraid in the face of constant death. War never changes, but such a battle must be waged. For the good of his son and for the remnants of mankind, that idea of humanity must maintained. So that hope can still endure and can overcome the fear.

When the boy comes face to face with the gang of raiders, or the family of cannibals, he always turned to his father to cast aside his fear. As his father began to die, the boys resolve began to strengthen. For all the events that had transpired against him, they strengthened his will to overcome this almost insurmountable obstacle.

On the flip side, the father has to overcome this fear to keep his son safe. If the only person in his world sees him afraid, the boy will lose all hope in trying to survive. Yet even with this mentality, he does it all to mold his son for when he is gone. And he knows that time is fast approaching. Without these preparations, the boy would not have been able to leave his father at the end, and too have may very likely perished.

When McCarthy delivers a sliver of hope after 200 pages of despair and turmoil, it mirrors that theme that the book is trying to convey to the reader. That even when all seems lost, after so much time has passed without any positives, those around you who care, along with hope being the one thing that is undistinguishable, can be enough for us all to carry on to the next day.

This is a great book for a high school senior. After dealing with so much stress, and much more coming in our next chapters of life, whether it be college, military or whatever, no situation is impossible to overcome. The man and his son had to learn this, even after his wife left, food ran short, and body began to give way to death, resolve never ran out. The man had to get up the next day to protect his son, and the boy had to wake up so the father had a purpose to live. Everyone needs that one person or goal, that makes waking up each day worth it.

Bibliography

"Two Views: The Road by Cormac McCarthy." Strange Horizons Reviews: , Reviewed by Victoria Hoyle and Paul Kincaid. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2014.

"Understanding Sociopolitical Theory through Cormac Mccarthys the Road." By A. Connelly. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

"Themes in The Road: Where Fiction and Science Meet." Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

"The Road Review." - Off-Topic. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

"First Inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt." - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.