McCarthy’s book, The Road, is a story of survival and love between a father and son. Even though this story is based on the future, throughout the pages it feels like the story is actually happening. Human existence can be determined in many aspects and even though humans are evolved more than most creatures, in the end we are still mammals. The apocalypse can have many metaphors to paint a picture in one’s mind. In The Road, the word usage to describe the apocalypse is grey, death and fire.
Ashes are a result from something being destroyed and can no longer be able to return to how it used to be. With having a fire to destroy and have the object turn to ash, can be a metaphor for the apocalypse. “They left the cart in a gully covered with
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With having a fire always going at night seems to give an image that as long as there is a fire, they would be alright. When the father is dying he tells his son, “You have to carry the fire…It’s inside you. It was always there” (McCarthy 279). All the boy wanted was to be with his father and when he’s finally leaving him to die, he knows he has to keep going for his father. Fire can be described in many ways as a light to keep on moving. Fire can be known to explain a reason to live as that there will always be light and to keep it alive to be able to see. Fire is used in many fashions as to cook, destroy, provides warmth, hope and light.
This was a great book with much imagery in it. Seeing what a father and son had to go through to survive. With living in a dull, grey world that’s full of death and fear, having their hope to survive it at all costs as long as they’re with each other. A father’s love for his son and not wanting to give up on him. Giving him a chance to live through these dark times, in hopes for a new beginning. He was born into a dark world and that this is all he knows. He is a stranger to the old ways of life and trying to survive this wasteland is the only thing he
A way fire is used in this novel is to represent destruction. One of the most evident reasons is shown when Montag was thinking about fire and says “...it destroys responsibility and consequences. A problem gets too burdensome, then into the furnace with it” (109). This quote reveals the use of fire was abused and destroyed so much knowledge in books. It ended up creating
He describes the burning as the pages being eaten. By saying that he is making the burning sound like a casual activity. People eat everyday and no one thinks anything of it. When people cook meat they set it on fire, this doesn’t make the burning of the books any different than cooking dinner. He also says that the fire changes the books.
Fire represents many things as “ Fire symbolizes life, continuity and vitality.” (Mbiti 180) As the story moves on, the element of fire becomes more and more destructive due to the violence and conflict that disrupts nature peaceful state. An example of fire showing its destructive nature is when the Germans attacked Robert and his troops as “Fire storms raged along the front. Men were exploded where they stood–--blown apart by the combustion”(Findley 132).
The Road is an amazing novel that shows the struggles and moral conflicts that arise from living in a post-apocalyptic world. While reading the story, the use of McCarthy’s distinctive diction, imagery and tone helps the reader become more understanding of what they are reading. It helps the reader better connect and understand what the man and the boy are experiencing. Through third person, one is able to know the feelings and thoughts of both the man and the boy which is important since the man knew what it was like before the apocalypse and applies that knowledge to situations he is currently facing while the boy only knows this post-apocalyptic “society” therefore his views are vastly different from his father’s. While reading the story,
Fire is one of the symbols that is shown in the very first scene of the movie. The large flames of the house fire that erupted when those on the reservation decided to celebrate 4th of July are shown and throughout the movie multiple representations of fire are used. In the first, and biggest fire or the movie, Thomas’ parents perish in the fire and a younger Thomas is saved by Arnold. However, Arnold says that he didn’t meant to save him. From then on throughout the movie, fire has been used in situations were liberation is occurring in so way or shape.
Towards the end of the novel the true symbolism of the fire is emphasized when the father is on his deathbed and tells the boy that “[He has] to carry the fire”(McCarthy 278). What the father
“It was a pleasure to burn,” especially for Guy Montag, the fireman in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451. Fire is a recurring symbol of the book, usually showing up with Montag when there is trouble or change. By examining to the novel and its deeper meaning, the reader is shown how Bradbury provides two different meanings of fire, and can learn how truly significant fire is. Bradbury uses the symbol of fire to represent both powerful destruction and beautiful creation. From poetic phrases to simple statements, fire is shown in two different lights, both of which show the true character of the element.
In the book “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, fire is used throughout as a symbol of goodness and rebirth. Fire is one great example of symbolism in this book.. Each of us has our own image of fire burning within us, and depending on experiences, it could be positive or negative. Fire has a dual image in the book, a symbol of destruction, and a symbol of warmth. Bradbury’s use of symbolism throughout the novel makes the book moving and powerful by using symbolism to reinforce the ideas of anti censorship.
Just a father and a son in a dystopic world, post-apocalyptic world covered with ashes, ashen skied grey sea. It is dull, bleak and darkness darker than dark spreading across the two characters as they find a way to survive in this dead world. Cormac McCarthy’s novel ‘The Road’ is a synecdoche of his life and his notion of identity as he does not find a sense of belonging in his own family or to the society. His feelings of alienation from his family and people were displayed through the characters feelings and acceptance of the world the world they live in. ‘The Road’ is a very gloomy and disturbing just like the world it represents.
The boy takes care of him as they talk one last time. Most prominently, the symbol of “the fire” (McCarthy 278) and carrying it are used to display hope and virtue. The man often uses ‘carrying the fire’ as a way to
Although Cormac McCarthy envisioned the world stating that only the violent survive, he also created two characters that would defy that belief by having them survive and simultaneously stick with their good morals. Cormac McCarthy defines the difference between the good and the bad. He used detailed imagery to describe the corrupt appearances the bad guys have. Cormac McCarthy created the setting to make it seem like only the corrupt
Flames wane and flicker, similar to the lives of the survivors. The ability to live on exists in carrying the fire. In contrast, the flames of a fire is a delicate art, something that may bring destruction if not carefully handled. Just as it brings warmth and life, fire brings death as well. Fire brings warmth to those who stay close to its flames, but will burn those who touch it.
‘Yes it is,’” (McCarthy 278). The boy sees the father as a visionary. An all-knowing person. When his father says the fire is real and the boy can reach it, the boy believes him and will now strive to achieve it for his father.
The hope for goodness and generosity in the world, the father’s view of the boy and carrying the flame shows how much the boy has grown. The
Reading response:Extended text: fiction Lord of the flies The book is about a plane crashes causing the only survivors and a group of schoolboys without adult supervision, trapped on a desert island waiting for rescue. Initially, when I read the beginning of the story, the boys have elected Ralph to be the leader and settled some rules to maintain order in the island. At first, I thought this is a children's adventure story where the children had get along and rescued by their teamwork and it ends up happily. In fact, after reading more the middle part of the book, the positive picture of my images had been smashed up, problems getting more and more.