Survival and Goodness in a Post - apocalyptic Future: Cormac McCarthy's The Road

포스트 - 묵시록 미래의 생존과 선의 실행: 코맥 매카시의 『로드』

Cormac McCarthy's The Road depicts a post-apocalyptic future in which the time and reason of catastrophe are not specified, but it can be seen to project the contemporary social and ethical concerns in the dismal setting. In this respect, the journey the man and boy depart for to the South is on one hand a journey to seek a warmer place to support their lives in the literal sense and, on the other hand, a journey to seek 'what a human being is' in the devastated world in a metaphorical sense since they face extremely harsh and tremendously poignant conditions in which their creed as human beings is tested. This paper aims to explore the hazards of the current society that the text criticizes and the morality and ethical values to be preserved and pursued. The second chapter examines how the text describes the contemporary crisis through the dark and coldness of the land and its sterility. The land produces almost nothing as the entire surface was scorched and is now covered with thick ashes. It shows perfectly a destroyed and irrecoverably frozen land. Throughout this desolate and ruined land, the atrocity and violence of the survivors goes beyond the limit. Ravaging strangers and plundering villages are widely spread. These conditions mirror the apparent selfishness and immorality of the recent society. The third chapter analyzes the man's inconsistent or dualistic narrative on the good. He knows what the good is but doesn't allow the boy to demonstrate the good behavior on others. His conflict is rooted in his hope to protect his son from being attacked by others. Therefore it can be interpreted that the meaning and orders of living in this post-apocalyptic period are uncertain and indecisive. The fourth chapter examines the belief the man and the boy clings to. Unlike the man's contradictory decisions, he shows definite firmness to be 'the good' by not eating people and carrying 'the fire.' Until he dies, the man endeavors to protect his son and have him acquire the moral conviction and strength to carry the fire in the world. In conclusion, the text reads the current society critically and highlights the importance of the humanity that must not be discarded throughout the generations.