Good Against Evil In Cormac Mccarthy's The Road

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The concept of good against evil is relevant in today’s society because our actions define and reflect our morals. People constantly face the battle between making good and bad choices, and culture greatly influences our decision making. We are raised to establish right from wrong, good from evil. Our ability to recognize acts of evil and corruption is developed from our experiences in life and from the environment in which we are raised. In The Road, the boy and the man struggle to survive as they embark on a treacherous journey to the south, where they believe they will find warmth and safety. Their will to keep living in a dark, post-apocalyptic world symbolizes perseverance and determination, along with the idea of good through destruction. Cormac McCarthy was raised as Roman Catholic but doesn’t consider himself religious despite his writing containing religious references. The man and the boy struggle to live up to moral code and also question God as they live in a world where there is little to no life, “The pivotal questions at the heart of the grail narrative represent the idea that healing is found in an act of genuine compassion - thus illuminates the boy’s formulation of his moral code through a series of questions that never seem to receive the answers he needs.” (Cooper). They have to scavenge for food, warmth, shelter and protection which strengthens their doubt of God’s existence. There are various references to Christianity through biblical allusions and religious imagery. The man acknowledges God and feels anger towards him, “Are you there?’ he whispered. ‘Will I see you at last? Have you a neck by which to throttle you? Have you a heart? Damn you eternally have you a soul? Oh God, he whispered. Oh God.’” (McCarthy 10). The boy is presented as a divine, Christ-like figure through his actions which resemble those of God. The boy is innocent, kind, generous, and moral which serves as a sign of hope to the reader. “Insert quote where boy wants to

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