Evaluation+in+terms+of+American+Literature

The Road largely reflects the ideas found in Dark Romanticism. Dark Romantics wrote of the dark side of human nature and emphasized the the evil found in humanity. In this book, the "dark" side of humanity is not only reflected in the antagonists that the Father and Boy come across in their journey but also in the setting of the story and the Father himself. When all hope dies and the human has to struggle in the race for existence, any and all trace of humanity will cease to exist. In the fight to live, friends turn to foes and the intelligence of man no longer holds importance as the primitive and animal instinct take over. The Road symbolizes this very truth. The Father and Boy, while traveling come across many other people, who, in their struggle to survive, have resorted to anything, even cannibalism. In this story, the setting itself reflects Dark Romanticism. The Father and Boy live in a land destroyed by war. They are living in a place that has been killed because of the hatred and anger between humans. This post-apocalyptic world shows the devastating effects that can occur because humans are innately evil. Despite being protective and good the Boy, the Father was compelled to hurt others. For example, at one point in their journey the father finds himself facing a difficult decision. When the Father and Boy come across a group of people who have been kidnapped and kept in a shack to be eaten by other people, he decides to leave the helpless victims to protect his only son, knowing that they would die soon. At many other times in the story, he comes across many people who are in desperate need in help, but refuses them this help. This clearly shows the dark side of the Father. In today's world, where the tree of terrorism has become the fruit for war and death in America and the world, this book is a perfect description of the consequences of the death of humans on the death of humanity.