Cormac Mccarthys Novel The Road English Literature Essay

Cormac Mccarthys Novel The Road English Literature Essay These were the parting words of a dying fathers last breath to his beloved young son as his time on what remained of earth was slowly fading away. In Cormac McCarthys novel The Road, the father and his son are traveling towards the south in a post-apocalyptic setting with only the thought of carrying the fire within their hearts. The term carrying the fire is McCarthys way of saying that the father and son need to carry on with their journey no matter the hardships they face and to carry on the flame of what humanity was. The fire represents the love that they feel for each other and their strength thats pushing them forward to carry on with their journey to the south. The fire can also represent their hope and faith in a gruesome and decaying world. Another argument would be that fire can also be represented as the humanity that is left alive. In Cormac McCarthys novel, The Road, throughout the journey the son is portrayed as the fathers inner fire. The fathers undying love for his son is what gives him the strength to carry on with their journey and survive. The love that the father and son feel for each other is evident to the readers throughout the novel, The Road, without them having to utter the three worded sentence. This is proven through the conversation the two had during another one of their restless nights. Can I ask you something? Yes. Of course you can. What would you do if I died? If you died I would want to die too. So you can be with me? Yes. So I could be with you. Okay. (McCarthy, Pg.11). Also, the father, viewed as both the archetypal father and mother, always put his son first when it comes to food, warmth, and safety. The father disregards his health over his sons. He awoke coughing and walked out so as not to wake the child. He coughed till he could taste the blood (McCarthy, Pg.54) They had a single blanket in the pack and he got it out and covered the boy with it and he unzipped his parka and held the boy against him (McCarthy, Pg.67). Throughout the novel, readers can clearly see the father struggling with himself, wondering if he would have the strength in him to pull the trigger releasing the one remaining bullet, killing his own flesh and blood to let him die remaining innocent and unharmed/tainted from the clutches of what humanity has manifested into. Can you do it? When the time comes? When the time comes there will be no time. Now is the time. Curse God and die. What if it doesnt fire? It has to fire. What if it doesnt fire? Could you crush that beloved skull with a rock? Is there such a being within you of which you know nothing? Can there be? Hold him in your arms. Just so. The soul is quick. Pull him toward you. Kiss him. Quickly. ( ) this quote reveals the fathers powerful love for his son, wanting him to pass on painlessly; still being the good guy while he himself would suffer what the tainted world threw at him. Needless to say, the love that the father and son share is powerful. Its what guides them on the road. It gives them the strength to continue and move on even when they are at deaths doorstep. At some point, the fathers strength to survive starts to slowly seep out of him, wishing it could just be over, but the boy brings back his fathers spirit and strength. Whats the bravest thing you ever did? he spat into the road a bloody phlegm. Getting up this morning he said. Really? No. Dont listen to me. Come on, lets go. (McCarthy, Pg.272). Throughout the novel, The Road, the son is seen as the flicker of light in a dimming world, representing hope. The way he whole-heartedly believes and has faith in the good guys and acting as his fathers morals gives the father the hope and faith he needs to continue on with their journey and to carry the fire. Over and over again, despite the loneliness, despair and lack of hope, the boys goodness shines out brightly in a black and grey world, for example when the thief stole their belongings from the beach, the boy stopped his father from hurting him and begged him to leave some food and clothes for the thief. As the novel progresses, the fathers faith starts to waver concerning his situation in the post-apocalyptic world they are journeying through. The setting of The Road plays a major role in letting the father continually struggle to keep his faith in humanity and god. He questions god and openly reveals his hatred towards god and his circumstances by saying, Have you a neck by which to throttle you? Have you a heart? Damn you eternally have you a soul? Oh God. (McCarthy, Pg.11-12). In the end, however, its his son who makes him see the tiny flicker of light and that you can always carry that hope even in the most difficult of times. Through the fathers eyes, the boy is seen as a god-like figure. The way the father speaks of his son is overflowing with religious references towards god. He says, If he is not the Word of God, then God never spoke. (McCarthy, Pg.5). Another reference would be when He sat beside him and stroked his pale and tangled hair. Golden chalice, good to house a God. (McCarthy, Pg.75). the boy lets the father still have that sense of belief in god by believing that he was appointed by god to watch over him and protect him. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed to do that by God. I will kill anyone who touches you. Do you understand? (McCarthy, Pg.77). Even though the father is angry at god, because of his son, he still has bel ief in him. The fire in the novel, The Road, can be referred to as the flame of humanity that has been left alive still burning inside their hearts. It is the son that brings out that shred of humanity in his fathers heart. Throughout The Road, the boys reactions and pleading to help the people who they meet during their journey shows how the son and his father act as foils towards one another. An example would be when the man doesnt show any guilt or remorse for leaving the people locked up in the basement. He instead feels relief for successfully getting his son and himself out of there, however the boy is upset that they didnt attempt to help them, just like when his father didnt let him help the man struck by thunder or the little boy and dog he came across. Its difficult for the boy to understand how they can be the good guys when there are so many bad guys out there. He continuously asks his father whether there truly are any others like themselves, the good guys. The father is the one lea ding the boy to mature and become aware of the world they are in and to understand how life will be. The boys kind-heartedness in return is whats leading the father to give in and help other survivors instead of always being cautious of them for the boys safety for example, the old man they found on the road named Ely. Through the fathers perspective we see that humanity isnt yet wiped out on earth. We also see the goodness and innocence in the boy that makes us, the readers; believe that humanities flame is still burning. The son is described as Someone trying to feed a vulture broken in the road. when the boy offered food to the old man, Ely (McCarthy, Pg.163). This flame of humanity is but a flicker of light in a post-apocalyptic world, however it gives is and the father a sense that there is hope for humanity.

Euthanasia Essay -- essays research papers fc

EUTHANASIA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Years ago, talking about death was a social taboo. Although, some civilizations have not open their minds that much, each day more people have opened their minds to a new way of looking at death. People have realized that as humans, they are not here to suffer; instead, they are here to enjoy life. Euthanasia is a word that in the past years has appeared on the media. Cases appeared each day, and people are not still reacting to it in a good way, probably because they do not know what it is really implied on it. People think of it as only a way of killing people, not in the way of helping patients with a better departure. People think that euthanasia has been accepted, by few, as the first and only option that ill patients have to. But instead, it is the last option, the last door to open and give patients a peaceful passing. Opposite sides conceive of euthanasia as a lower and non ethical way to help patients. Also they claim the fact that sometimes euthanasia has been practiced wit hout the consent of patients, but at the will of doctors and families. Euthanasia is a very complex issue, and it can not be looked at as the answer for every single patient. Otherwise, it has to be thought of as a very rare and non usual way of helping people. Euthanasia is there to let people know that they have an open option to rely on in any moment, without thinking of any legal consequence, obviously with the appropriate precautions that corresponds. Euthanasia is known as mercy killing. What euthanasia simply gives is a better ending to those patients who seem to not have any deserving end. There are various ways of practicing it, and many definitions around it have born. A pro-euthanasia group defines assisted suicide as when someone â€Å"provides the means (drugs or other agents) by which a person can take his or her own life† (ERGO). There also exists what is called as physician-assisted suicide, in which a doctor prescribes lethal drugs in order to help the patient commit suicide. One of the most famous cases in the world concerning physician assisted suicide is the one of Dr Jack Kevorkian. Dr Kevorkian, who currently is 70 years old, has been convicted for 7 years for helping in almost 130 cases on assisted suicide. Dr Kevorkian has shelter in compassion. It means his only defense is that he was just helping all his patients that his int... ... they have an option, that instead of endless suffering and spending amount of time and money they have an option. WORKS CITED "Arguments for Euthanasia Are Unconvincing" by International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force. Euthanasia. Opposing Viewpoints ® Series. Greenhaven 2000. http://0galenet.galegroup.com.librus.hccs.edu:80/servlet/OVRC Campbell, Courteney S. â€Å"Euthanasia and Religion† Infotrac. January 2000. p 37 http://web3.infotrac.galegroup.com.librus.hccs.edu ERGO. 5.Nov. 2004. www.finalexit.org Lockwood, Frank E. â€Å"Choosing to die† Miami Herald. 24.June. 2001 http://0-www.sirs.com.librus.hccs.edu:80 Los Angeles Times. â€Å"Ashcroft seeks power to punish Oregon euthanasia doctors† Los Angeles Times 10.Nov. 2004 http://0-web3.infotrac.librus.hccs.edu Not Dead Yet. 5 Nov.2004 www.notdeadyet.org Palmer, Larry I. â€Å"Endings and beginnings: law medicine, and society in assisted life and death. Westport, Conn. Praeger.200 The hemlock society. 5 Nov. 2004 http://www.compassionindying.org Urofsky, Melvin. â€Å"Rights of the people: individual freedom and the bill of rights -- Privacy† SIRS Government Reporter. 2003

Language Corrupts Thought Essay

Language Corrupts Thought Essay Speeches are given all the time, all around the world. Speeches are given to express thoughts and feelings by revealing the speaker’s qualities and opinions, which can impact business, politics, and world events. Politicians are constantly corrupting citizen’s thoughts. They do this in order to distort the truth, to gain your attention, and to go along and follow what they believe. In March 2008, Sally Kern stated her position in homosexuality.Looking through Kern’s speech, she is distorting the truth by telling biased statistics, information that is irrational, and that she is influencing others with her religion view. First, Kern use of statistics is completely biased. â€Å"Matter of fact, studies show no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it’s the death knell for this country. † This so called study is completely biased because she has no proof or evid ence that what she is stating is even a bit true.And she has no proof to prove to us that there have been societies that have died out because they embraced homosexuality. She is a bigot in such a way that she won’t tolerate those who hold different opinions from her own, which is not something we look for in a legislator or anyone who is a part of the government system. Throughout the speech, Kern demonstrates reasons to why she is against homosexuals. â€Å"I honestly think it’s the biggest threat even, that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat. OK? † Homosexuals are not a threat to our nation.The comparison between terrorism and homosexuals just cannot be made. Homosexuals do not cause a danger to our country or our universe, for that matter. There have been no Americans killed by LGBT citizens, if at all, there are more Americans killing LGBT citizens, not directly, but through suicidal acts. Terrorists have kil led thousands of people, posing a threat to our country, which are things that homosexuals have not done. â€Å"Homosexuals are already citizens who have equal rights. They want â€Å"special rights† for the acceptance of their deviant lifestyle.I'm thankful that Oklahoma is different than California and New York. I pray it stays that way. † Once again, Homosexuals do not want â€Å"special rights†, all they want is to be able to live their life, married with their significant other. What is so different between a man and woman marriage and 2 men or 2 women marriage? Throughout history, people have stood up for things that they did not agree with. African Americans were segregated for years. George Wallace, former governor of Alabama, said in his inaugural address, â€Å"I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever. judging African Americans based on the color of their skin. Or the Jewish people taken from their homes to concentration camps judging them based on their religion. Homosexuality is no different. Another thing Kern continuously states in this speech is her religious view, hinting that her religious view is superior to any other. â€Å"But if I were to ask you what is the one thing that has made America great, that makes us unique, what would it be?†¦ What made us great is that we were a nation founding on Christian principles†¦ I am not saying everyone has to be Christian; this is not a homogenous nation.What you have to be is someone who believes in a Judeo-Christian ethic, in other words, in knowing there's a right and wrong. † She asked the question, and then answered it herself. Instead of letting the American’s minds wander and to think for themselves, Kern just automatically answered for them without thought of a different opinion. Also, she contradicts herself in that last sentence. She’s telling us we can pick whatever religion we’d like, which is what should ha ppen, but telling us we need these requirements regardless of what religion we believe in or even if we believe in one.This is said simply to push more people towards Christianity and believe with what she believes in. Kern all the way through her speech, addressed the issue of homosexuality and why she thought it was inhumane and unjust for our country. However, Kern filled her speech with absurd ideas and invalid information. Kern’s speech about homosexuality evidently failed because Kern did not back up information with proof or evidence and tried using her religion to persuade people to side with her. Work Cited http://www. boxturtlebulletin. com/2008/03/20/1662

Children Do Not Come Into The World With Culture - 1718 Words

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