Humanity's Dream: Conflicted Approaches to Imagination in 'The Road' Anonymous 12th Grade

From the very beginning of The Road, Cormac McCarthy, in his post-apocalyptic world, makes it very clear to the reader that this is a place of no hope. He treats happiness and excitement as useless acts, which will lead to the characters’ inevitable demise. Any use of energy throughout the day not dedicated to survival is wasted. The man, as he begins to slowly die, succumbs to his mind attempting to overtake his will. In The Road, Cormac McCarthy uses hope and imagination as impediments, best displayed through the father’s original attitude towards dreaming and his slow divulge into his mind as he approaches death.

Imagination, in humans, can not be avoided, but must be used in moderation. If the mind is unused or controls the person’s surroundings, they will fail in their tasks. The avoidance of the mind will lead to one’s downfall, as it is what brings you hope for the future. The man’s initial reactions toward him and his son’s imaginations taking hold is a mix of fear and dread, as he knows that the mind will grasp control of them and divert them from their travels, endangering their safety. He makes his son avoid his dreams and imagination, opting for a no tolerance policy. He believes that dreams are death’s wretched...