The interpretation of the boy as a messiah is accurate because of characteristics that he possesses that could be likened to those of Christ. The conclusion is arrived at after the character analysis of the boy. Several instances reveal him as highly compassionate, an aspect that is typical of the messiah. Other than teaching multitudes about treating others with compassion, his undertakings such as healing the sick, driving out demons, and feeding the hungry exemplified this. The boy, in several instances, reminds his father that they should remain to be good regardless of their circumstances. He asks his father to share the little food they have with a few despondent individuals they meet on the way. “…the boy demands that they remain “good guys,” a status they can rightfully claim only if they give food to the hapless outcasts they occasionally meet. (McCarthy, 2009, p.170)Besides the above, the boy’s ability to survive about ten years after the apocalypse could be likened to the messiah’s ability to withstand Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. The above is exemplified by the old man’s loss of faith in their ability to find good living conditions, an aspect that he compares to Jesus’ temptations (McCarthy, 2009, p. 176).
In creating the character of the boy, McCarthy’s had an optimistic look at the nature of human beings and their condition. First of all, the boy is born after the apocalypse. It signifies hope for new life even after a disastrous occurrence. The nature of human kindness is also a positive attribute possessed boy, an aspect that shows hope in humanity. Throughout the story, the son is exposed to torturous situations, but he does not give up desire to live. This shows optimism for a better future. Besides, the boy’s hopes of interconnection between him and his father, even after his father’s death, shows optimism, an aspect that the author aims at bringing out using the boy(McCarthy, 2009, p. 176).
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References
McCarthy, C. (2009). The road . Pan Macmillan.
