The Road

What does being a “good guy” mean in the world of this novel? What avenues for goodness are possible here? And do you believe there really are “good” and “bad” guys in McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic setting?

What does the little boy imagined by the child protagonist represent, and how does it inform his view of humanity throughout the novel?

The novel takes an incredibly dim view of humanity. What is the moral difference between humans at their furthest extremity, and humans setting up a world in which the furthest extremity is possible?

In your view, what is McCarthy’s take on suicide? How does it differ from self-sacrifice?

What are the differences between Ely’s and the man’s view of the world? Are they just different sides of a similar nihilism, or are they fundamentally different viewpoints?

How does the simplicity of McCarthy’s language add or detract from his story?

What was your expectation for the coastal destination the man had mapped out throughout the book? What does the actual state of the coast represent?

In what ways has the boy shown an adaptability to this world where he had not shown it before? Is he ready to face the world without his father?