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After an unknown apocalyptic event hits the USA, a boy and his father travel a barren wasteland. Planning to travel to the coast side in order to find better conditions to live in, they must face unexpected challenges along the way. The Road is an amazing novel that deals with how far we are willing to go to survive, Cormac McCarthy can give readers a clear image of a dreary and almost dead Earth, aside from the occasional stray dog or cannibals roaming, literally the opening of the novel already set’s the tone of what type of a world it is set in “When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of night he’d reach out to touch the child sleeping beside him. Night dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one that what had gone before�. This theme of desperation and no hope is also conveyed in The Man, he is often reserved and keeps to himself never really wanting to help anyone or anything passing by always carrying a gun beside him. Despite this very gloomy and depressing setting, the novel paints our other main character, The Boy is often painted as a beacon of light, not only is he the main motivating factor of The Main but is also sympathetic and compassionate to others they encounter, it often depicts The Boy sort of like a holy figure, almost Jesus like which is further induced where The Man believe God was told him to protect the boy no matter what. The Man intends to protect The Boy even if it means killing another, while The Boy is more open and is willing to help others in need, he represents the main theme of this novel, hope. A consistent quote from this novel is “carrying on the fire�, when The Man dies due to bleeding from a leg injury, The Boy takes his gun, and The Man tells him that it is time for The Boy to move on and survive on his own, knowing that he is ready and dies soon after, moments later The Boy comes across another family, although he is hesitant at first he allows the family to take him to safety. The gun passing onto The Boy is how he is now “carrying on the fire�, the fire being The Man’s teachings, he still lives on through The Boy which provides hope for The Boy’s future, no matter how dark the world is now.