In conjunction, Cormac McCarthy’s The Road highlights that humans dislike remembering bad memories and often fabricate the past. The Road details the story of a man and his son through a post-apocalyptic landscape and their struggle to maintain their morals. This distaste for reality leads to a romantic remembrance of the past that doesn’t allow people to accept the present. An example would be the nightmares that the man experiences. His nightmares are more like memories of his past and extensions of the present. Furthermore, the man notes that “What he could bear in the waking world he could not by night and he sat awake for fear the dream would return” (130). The man returns to his happy memories of the past in his good dreams, especially
…show more content…
It was always there.” (234) Although tough times are ahead of the boy, this quote highlights that humans have the ability to live according to a defined code of ethics as long as they make sure that they continue to pass on the past generations’ morals. Moreover, Cormac McCarthy shows how hard it is to live in a world without a defined code of ethics through the journey of the man and his son. Throughout the novel, there is a plethora of events that the man and boy witness that test their code of ethics, but they are somehow able to maintain their moral sanctity even after all they have gone through. All of their trials along their journey culminate with the man’s response to the question the boy asks: “What's the bravest thing you ever did? He spat in the road a bloody phlegm. Getting up this morning, he said” …show more content…
John Grady and Rawlins carry different perceptions of reality and their views often lead them to react to reality in different manners; Rawlins is more of a realist and he understands that people can be ugly sometimes, but John Grady holds a more romanticized perception of reality and he thinks that people are good at heart. The story details loss and how it is in human nature to forget the painful past and replace those memories with romanticized versions of themselves. Nonetheless, the past usually comes back to haunt in the worst possible way. When John Grady is talking with Alfonsa, he notices that she is missing a finger. She then points out that “scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real” (135). In essence, because of the embarrassing circumstances surrounding her past and the past of many others, people are more likely to forget the past and replace their memories with a “better” past. But this way of thinking deflects any personal growth and often leads to a detrimental progression when all is said and done. In order for people to grow as an individual, he or she must endure painful memories to further substantiate their code of ethics and reinforce their convictions. Even as a child, Alfonsa noted that “[her father] said that those who have endured some misfortune will always be set apart but that it is just that
It was always there.” (234) Although tough times are ahead of the boy, this quote highlights that humans have the ability to live according to a defined code of ethics as long as they make sure that they continue to pass on the past generations’ morals. Moreover, Cormac McCarthy shows how hard it is to live in a world without a defined code of ethics through the journey of the man and his son. Throughout the novel, there is a plethora of events that the man and boy witness that test their code of ethics, but they are somehow able to maintain their moral sanctity even after all they have gone through. All of their trials along their journey culminate with the man’s response to the question the boy asks: “What's the bravest thing you ever did? He spat in the road a bloody phlegm. Getting up this morning, he said” …show more content…
John Grady and Rawlins carry different perceptions of reality and their views often lead them to react to reality in different manners; Rawlins is more of a realist and he understands that people can be ugly sometimes, but John Grady holds a more romanticized perception of reality and he thinks that people are good at heart. The story details loss and how it is in human nature to forget the painful past and replace those memories with romanticized versions of themselves. Nonetheless, the past usually comes back to haunt in the worst possible way. When John Grady is talking with Alfonsa, he notices that she is missing a finger. She then points out that “scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real” (135). In essence, because of the embarrassing circumstances surrounding her past and the past of many others, people are more likely to forget the past and replace their memories with a “better” past. But this way of thinking deflects any personal growth and often leads to a detrimental progression when all is said and done. In order for people to grow as an individual, he or she must endure painful memories to further substantiate their code of ethics and reinforce their convictions. Even as a child, Alfonsa noted that “[her father] said that those who have endured some misfortune will always be set apart but that it is just that