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Birth of the Boy
The birth of the boy is significant to the man and woman in two ways. First, the boy's birth provides the man with a reason to continue fighting for survival and a reason for hope. "He knew only that the child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke" (McCarthy 5). It also marked the end of the woman's hope for the world. "My heart was ripped out of me the night he was born so don't ask for sorrow now" (McCarthy 57). -
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The Road
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The Death of the Mother
This event marks the beginning of the man's doubt in whether or not his son should live. The woman killed herself because she believed the world had become a place not worth living in anymore. This raised the question... Was the man doing the right thing? "I'd take him with me if it weren't for you. You know I would. It's the right thing to do" (McCarthy 56). -
The Man Starts Coughing
The man's coughing foreshadows his impending death. This disease follows him throughout the novel and forces him to realize he will not be around to take care of the boy forever so he must provide for him while he still can. "I am going to die, he said. Tell me how I am to do that" (McCarthy 175). -
They Pass the Man Struck By Lightning
This event is very important because it marks the beginning of the man's separation from the boy. The boy wants to be a "good guy", a superhero of sorts, and all the man wants is to protect him. "I'm sorry for what happened to him but we cant fix it. You know that, dont you? The boy stood looking down. He nodded his head. Then they went on and he didnt look back again" (McCarthy 50). -
The Truck
This event has many important factors. First of all, they were in extreme danger. The confrontation with the man from the truck also cost them a bullet and almost all of their supplies. Perhaps the most important result of this event; however, was the illustration of just how much the man is willing to do in order to protect his son. "My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you" (McCarthy 77). -
The Little Boy
While walking through the deserted town, the boy saw another young boy peeping through a window. This event truly affected the boy and continued to stick with him. He probably felt a lot less alone thinking there was someone else his age that he might be able to befriend. The man however did not think taking in a little boy was a good idea and the boy was left heartbroken. "Stop it. We cant. He was crying again. What about the little boy? he sobbed What about the little boy?" (McCarthy 86). -
Cannibal House
After going days without eating anything, the man had become deperate. As a result, he risked going into a house to look for food. This event turns out to be significant becaue while there they found a basement full of people being kept for food. This once again showed the darkness of this world and the boy's compassion. "We couldn't help them because then they'd eat us too? Yes. And that's why we couldnt help them. Yes" (McCarthy 127). -
The Bunker
Finally, the man and boy found a bunker that had plety of food and supplies. This allowed them to regain their strength and stock up on supplies. While this seemed to be a dream come true, the event is important because the man was slightly disturbed by the fact that he wasn't going to die. "He'd been ready to die and now he wasnt going to and he had to think about that" (McCarthy 144). -
Ely
The boy was forever wanting to help those in need. The man finally caved in and allowed him to help an old man they found on the road. I think they're meeting with Ely was important because he represents a faithless McCarthy before he had his son. "There is no God. No? There is no God and we are his prophets" (McCarthy 170). -
The Boat
The man and the boy finally make it to the coast (which is a small victory in and of itself). While searching along the beach, they find a boat that has supplies they can scavenge. Among their finds is a flare gun they can use in place of the pistol in self defense. "Can you shoot somebody with it? he said. You could. Would it kill them? No. But it might set them on fire. Is that why you got it? Yes. Because there's nobody to signal to. Is there? No" (McCarthy 241). -
The Sickness
As the man and boy find salvation and supplies from the ship, the boy falls terribly ill. This is important because it shows the man's tender side. Even though it would be much easier just to let the boy die and then kill himself, he doesn't consider that for moment. " He held the boy and bent to hear the labored suck of air... He walked our on the beach to the edge of the light and stood with his clenched fists on top of his skull and fell to his knees sobbing in rage" (McCarthy 250). -
The Thief
One day the man and boy return to their camp site and all of their supplies have been stolen. The man and the boy's reactions to this event show just how different they have become. The man plans on leaving the thief to die naked and starving while the boy feels pity for this man even though he wanted to take everything from them. "I wasnt going to kill him, he said... He could tell by his breathing that the boy was awake after a while the boy said: But we did kill him" (McCarthy 260). -
Death of the Man
The man has been sick for quite some time and finally succumbs to his illness leaving the boy alone in the world. This is significant because the boy must choose whether or not he wants to keep "carrying the fire" for his father, or join him in death. "I want to be with you. You cant. Please. You cant. You have to carry the fire. I dont know how to. Yes you do. Is it real? The fire? Yes it is" (McCarthy 278). -
Finding the "Good Guys"
Shortly after the man dies, the boy is found by another man. This man takes the by in with his family and provides him with a safe group to "carry the fire" with. "So are you? What, carrying the fire? Yes. Yeah, We are" (McCarthy 284). -
Hope for a Better World
In the end of the novel, McCarthy provides us with a message of hope. He leaves the boy with Godspoken people, and writes about the world coming back to life. This leaves the reader with the hope that world could rebuild and become stronger and better than it ever was before. "Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery" (McCarthy 287).
