Keeping the Characters Nameless

One of the main things that our group talked about was the fact that the characters in The Road were kept nameless. They were only referred to as the man and the boy. For a while I have been thinking about why the author would do this. I think that if he gave the characters names it would have distracted us from the main purpose of the novel. The purpose being to understand the father and the son's relationship with each other and how they dealt with the situation that they are in. Maybe because they don't have names we can connect with the characters more because certain names are associated with certain personalities. All of this is speculation of course and I'd be very interested in talking to Cormac McCarthy to see what he has to say on this topic.

What is your fire?

While the father and his son are on their journey along the road it is often mentioned that they are carrying the fire. This "fire" is what keeps them going. It motivates them and helps them keep going. What is my fire? What helps motivate me? If you had asked me this at the beginning of high school I would probably say food. I have such a vast love for food that I would do almost anything for it. But now that I am somewhat more mature I would say that my future is my fire. If I mess up now it could greatly affect how I am in the future. I might not get the job I want and I might not be the kind of person that I would want to be. I try to think about this everyday and when I face  a hard decision. Always remember your fire and pass it on to someone before it burns out.

What would you do to survive?

If an apocalyptic situation ever stared me right in the face I might pee my pants a little bit. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't go to the ends of the Earth to survive it. Being only 18 there is nothing more important to me on this planet than my own life. So if it came down to the apocalypse I would do anything to survive. In the book the Road the father refuses to be like other survivors and eat humans. Therefore both he and his son are in an almost constant state of starvation. While cannibalism is a bit extreme if it helps you survive in times like these I say that you go for it. The man was already sick and by hardly eating he made it worse. He eventually died and abandoned his son on this apocalyptic Earth. So when it comes down to it I would do anything to survive.

Open Letter

Parents.

At this point, I’m sorry to say, your relationship with your child is simple. Either you know him or her, or you don’t. If you are of the latter, I know that doesn’t seem fair, considering all the hard work, time, effort and money you probably put into raising your kid. But it isn’t your fault. At least, it isn’t all your fault. Sometimes, kids and their parents just don’t connect. However, if you are of the first group, as I hope most parents believe they are, there is still something more you should know.

There comes a time when you being his parent is no longer a good enough reason for your child to tell you everything. No matter how good of a relationship you think you have with your son or daughter, I can assure you that there are things he or she doesn’t share with you. This might not be because they distrust you or dislike you, or because they’re doing bad and shameful things behind your back. Sometimes, kids don’t tell you things simply because they don’t want to. Maybe they know you’ll react a certain way, or interfere with something they are determined to accomplish, or that you will be quick to judge because of your perpetually removed point of view. Either way, your child will only tell you things when they decide they should, whenever they feel comfortable enough to let you into their world.

When your child reaches this point, which he will, whether it is in high school, after college, or in 2^nd grade, you have to let yourself come to terms with the fact that your relationship with him has changed. In fact, your job as a parent has always been changing, and it will continue to change. Relationships aren’t static; they’re living things, and they’re affected by circumstance. They need to be cared for and tended to, and sometimes, even the most carefully nurtured relationships can break apart. People can’t be defined by people. People can outgrow each other. It isn’t something to fear or dread. It’s just how things are.

Anyways, parents. When all is said and done, you have to trust yourself. You have to trust that you did your job; that your child has stored away all of your love, wisdom and warnings, and will now be able to go on and live what they choose as a meaningful and fulfilling life. Maybe one day, they’ll give you grandkids that don’t tell either of you everything.

Oh, one more thing. We truly do love you. Thanks for everything.

-Your Kids