Overall, I was overwhelmed by this novel's PURITY in delivering a parable of humankind's race against death. I do not believe Cormac McCarthy's The Road can be read as a classic dystopian drama. While the post-apocalyptic setting incites the story's general conflict (a father and son scavenge across a ruined cannabilisitic America), science fiction does not drive the narrative; instead, this is a story of a father's love for his son and his determination to live humanely, in spite of all survivalistic compromise.
Since I often encourage my students to question the author's choices in style and purpose for writing, I feel I must too.
1. Stylistically, McCarthy's prose vacillates between stark, economic clarity (in the tradition of Hemingway), and Biblically elegant description. McCarthy's writing does not include the standard rules of punctuation, nor does his dialogue use traditional tags to identify speakers. The effect of this omission is cinematic, and allows readers the opportunity and added pleasure of inferring the expression and subtext of each exchange:
I dont know what to do, Papa. I dont know what to do. Where will you be?
It’s okay.
I dont know what to do.
Shh. I’m right here. I wont leave you.
You promise.
Yes. I promise. I was going to run. To try and lead them away. But I cant leave you.
Papa?
Shh. Stay down.
I’m so scared.
Shh.
2. McCarthy's purpose, or a possible theme of the novel, comments on humankind's obsessive race against death, and asks: how does this obsession drive our humanity, perseverance, and integrity, but also our selfishness, violence, and sin?
But, after reading, I still wasn't satisfied, even though this is one of the best books I've ever read. I still needed to find something to think about. My inner critic had to find something to chew on! So, I was curious and searched for what other readers have discussed concerning McCarthy's treatment of (seemingly weak and one-dimensional) female characters. I searched the web and found this brilliant blog applying a feminist critique to the story: A Feminist Reading of Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD.
How can we accuse the text of misogyny when the very end of the novel shifts loudly towards hope, shepherded by a woman, a mother-figure's comforting of the boy? This closing cannot be overlooked in our feminist critique. Does it entirely redeem McCarthy's texts' portrayal of women throughout his literary career? I'll need to read more to judge.
HELP! Which McCarthy novel should I devour next?
(((P.S.: Here's a line from the novel I really enjoy that I can seem to weave into this post: "He thought each memory recalled must do some violence to its origins. As in a party game. Say the word and pass it on. So be sparing. What you alter in the remembering has yet a reality, known or not.")))
