Father And Son

After contemplating the harsh reality in "The Road" and finding absence of hope through the pages, I realized that there where things to light up the tragedy, even if it is only for the reader at the expense of the characters. What most clearly demonstrates this is the tender relationship between father and son, and how they stick together no matter what almost as if staying alive was a sacrifice done for the sake of the other, for the love that exists between. Obviously, it is not the ideal setting for a story of a great father and his son, but it is in the worst moments when the best things of life stand out. When there is nothing left for any of them they hang on to the other as best they can, giving and receiving from one another and unfailing support.

This love for his son is more visible in the toughest parts of their journey when the reality is extremely close to being too much to handle and theres "a single round left in the revolver. you will not face the truth. You will not (68)." And he considers ending the tragedy but he doesn't not for himself, but for someone else. And it is here where they keep each other alive with their mere presence, with their patient company. And the father not only accompanies the son, but finds in him a reason to continue, a purpose in life, a task at hand. He is the kids ultimate protector and would have it no other way, firmly believing that he was "appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you (77)." And he covers every role in the kids life, for even if we wanted to, there is no one else left to do so. But this in no way shadows the magic of relationship, for even if it could happen no other way, the fact that it does makes the father a hero to the reader, whom, warm and comfortable in his bed, reads about the snow and starvation.

The two make up the whole story: their story. But it is not enough, for every page we read we discover something new, something else about them, their past, their thinking, their personality, their love. And they are not only father and son, for they are friends, companions in adversity. One may be stronger that the other and wiser and more prepared for the reality that hits them, but none is less integral to their survival than the other, for if one of them fails to persist, the other would surely succumb to his situation. And even when it seems logical and the situation would call for sacrifice, they would not have it that way. Th father feels it and he confesses that he "was going to run. To try to lead them away. But I cant leave you (113)." It is here that the father makes it clear for everyone and for himself that there is no point in sacrifice, that it makes no sense to survive without the other. And so there is some hope at least, maybe not in the outcome, or in the situation, but in humanity as a people of feelings, capable of love and sacrifice.