In Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road, family becomes the central theme that shapes the world in the novel. A reader follows the story of the single-parent family: the father and his son travel across the post-apocalyptic land and fight day after day for their survival. While the father is a loving and caring person, devoted to his son, the mother prefers to withdraw and commits suicide. In this all-dog-eat-dog world, these characters reveal their natures and reveal themselves to be polar opposites through a broader lens. The author contrasts the paternal and maternal roles and presents them as two possible attitudes towards the difficulties of life. While the mother is the person who cannot stand trials and escapes, the father figure is the one who manifests unconditional and invisible love through typical family activities, new world behavior and guidance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The image of the mother is blurry, and some details suggest that she is the personification of those who are unable to adapt to external brutal conditions and choose to surrender. From the first moments of the story his absence is noticeable, and there is always some gap that the characters feel deeply. One night, after another coughing fit, the father speaks to the boy saying he is sorry for waking him, and the boy suddenly admits that he would like to be with his mother. Although father and son rarely mention her out loud, they both think of her often. This memory is torturous, but it gives them the ability to keep moving because they have nothing else left. For the father, this memory is a reminder of his failure to care for his wife and leaving her to die alone somewhere, and the vivid dreams intensify the suffering. For the child, once again, it is natural to dream of her presence, just as any motherless child does, even if he tries to keep a straight face. Therefore, the figure of the mother becomes the evocation of the past that fuels the characters. However, in addition to family longing, there is another idea associated with the maternal figure: the attitude towards struggle and hope. The woman expects the worst – to be captured, raped and killed at some point in her family existence, and can only seek comfort in controlling her life through suicide: “As for me, my only hope is eternal nothingness” . It is the lack of faith in the face of no hope that distinguishes the woman from her husband. He is unable to move beyond the present because there is no evidence of future well-being. In other words, the maternal role is specific because it implies protection, as the woman believes, which objectively has nothing to do with maternal love. Through the maternal figure, the writer depicts the opposite of hope rather than true motherhood. Unlike woman, man possesses the best qualities of a father. The multiple situations described in the story identify him as a person of sincere love, courage and a spirit of sacrifice. The book contains several moments in which the writer shows the ideal relationship between a father and son who belong to a normal world, untouched by catastrophe, rather than a post-apocalyptic and hostile environment. For example, it is a common practice for a father to teach his son to swim – in today's world. In The Road setting, such events are extraordinary and their value increases. In this episode, the father acts as a caring and supportive parent who encourages his son and makes sure there are no threats: “The man went back and got him. He held it and made it float...You're doing well, the man said. You're doing well." This moment shows that the characters' family bonds are strong and the simple activity becomes substantial proof. Another illustrative example of the closeness between father and son is the moment when they come across a bunker with many useful supplies. Although both they are on guard because they might appear "bad guys", this does not prevent them from resting. The father shaves and cuts his and his son's hair, and these apparently ordinary activities turn out to be a precious moment of long-awaited tranquility and restless family happiness. . Episodes like this demonstrate that the father's attempts to please his son are sometimes successful, even if it is a temporary success. On the one hand, the book offers nothing in the way of escape or comfort they can ignore these moments because they provide the reader with concrete evidence that the man has managed to do a lot for his son. Furthermore, the father not only engages his son in pleasant activities, but also protects him throughout the story until his last breath. In fact, it is the only possible way of survival for a small child, and man takes care of him since his birth. It is strange that she should give birth to the child while the catastrophe is occurring, and the fact that the clock has stopped could be the powerful symbol of the new signature of time – now taking into account the presence and care of the child towards her. From this moment on, scary conditions and increased responsibility require specific behavior, and it's not always about being heroic or having fun together. Practical affairs, for example, finding food, become one of the most urgent activities. In the new world there are still some opportunities to find forgotten places where cans and other supplies are available. The father does not worry about himself: his main concern is about food for his son. The small details show that when it comes to getting food he catches every drop as happens in the old apple orchid: "He felt the spaces around the trunks and filled his pockets and piled the apples in the hood of his parka behind his head and carried apples stacked along his forearm against his chest. As a man of the new world, he understands that he must take advantage of every opportunity because he must feed his son. In addition to these prosaic details, the author also demonstrates that the father's behavior changes when some circumstances put his son in danger. The most significant example is probably the moment when he shoots one of those bad men who threatened his son and uses a precious bullet because, as he tells the boy, his job is to take care of him: “I was instructed to do this by God. I will kill anyone who touches you.” In fact, the boy is the father's only reason to live, therefore, he should keep him alive no matter what. Overall, it is the new world reality that makes man exploit every opportunity to survive regardless of the costs. He is not afraid to lower his son's esteem and kill someone because, in his worldview, his son's life is the most precious thing. Finally, the father acts as a teacher to the boy, not only in terms of material matters but also shaping his worldview and answering his questions about life. The dialogue in the dark helps the reader peer into the relationships between the father and son: What would you do if I died? If you died, I would want to die too. So could you stay with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In this example, it can be seen that the man cannot imagine his life without his.