Importance of "The Road" in the Novel and other symbols and metaphors

The importance of "The Road" in the novel is that it symbolises a continuous journey, as "The Road" is literally a never ending object. "The Road" could symbolise the twists and turns in the journey of the man and the boy, as in life a road is rarely stright forward. In a literal context a road can either go forwards or backwards. This could symbolise the man and the boys relationship, as they appear to be very distant from each other which could mean that they are going backwards on "The Road" as their relationship is not getting any better. However when the man is dying, he becomes emotional, this could symbolise their relationship getting better, which means that they would be making progress forwards on "The Road". Roads in America connect the country together which makes them vital. in "The Road" the road has the same importance because it is connecting the man and the boy together by their need to survive by following the road. Also the hope of the survival of humanity is carried on "The Road" because whilst most things have been destroyed the road has stayed in tact meaning that it brings people together because they all seek survival by traveling along it.

Class notes

• The death of the "Road Rat" could symbolise that although death happens life continues, just like "The Road is continuious.
• The Road Rat shows that you can die at any time which shows that their is danger on the road, like there is danger in life.
• The Road rat shows that you have to overcome challenges, and how the road is a challange in itself. Life will throw obstacles at you, and you have to try to overcome them, just like the man and the boy do whilst on the road.
• The Boy shows growth as he becomes more responsible becasue of his fathers sometimes reckless decisions. "Your not the one who has to worry about anything. He looked up. His wet and grimy face, "Yes I am. He said. I am the one" this shows the boy understands the dangerous situations his father puts them in, so he has taken upon himself to be the wary, cautious one (Traits he may have picked up form his father). It shows the roles have reversed as when the man is dying the boy looks after him just like the man looked after him. Although the boy is still very emotional which reminds us that he is still a young child, too young to understand the life he lives in. This relates to the road becasue as the journey has continued the boy has grown a little more and knows he will have to be stronger and braver once his father has gone becasue his journey will continue without his dad, just like the Road continues .
• The road could symbolise that you have to carry on with your journey and leaves things behind becasue they Road will not stop for you. Like when the man leaves the picture of his wife on the road it symbolises that he has left her in the past in order to move forwards in his life and along road.

 The coca cola can is a representative of popular culture in America. The coca cola the man and the boy drink symbolises the decline of society in the novel as the boy does not know what coca cola is, which in today's society would almost be unheard of. This shows how society's priorities have changed as the need for survival has taken over, because once the most popular drink associated with the american culture is now a unknown, rare product which shows how desperate the situation has become, how culture is dying. The fact that the boy has never tasted coke before is shocking becasue how can a vital part of american society and culture not be known by the young generation, as it is a symbol of good and love in the US. The lack of the most popular drink could symbolise the lack of good and love withinn the society they live in.


The fire gives the man and the boy warmth. It helps them cook their food and dry their clothes which shows its importance. The fire could symbolise hope and how it is always surrounding them and has always been there and how fire will carry on burning and will not be put out.

Water is key to survival, you use water to wash, clean and drink. The water symbolises the religous act of washing away your sins. The man knows that he has done wrong so he uses the water to wash himself, free from any wrong doings and becomes pure. The road adds to this because when they travel along the road they are able to leave their past behind on it, and when the man washes he is able to wash away his sins and try to forget.

Religion plays a big part in american culture, most americans believe in a God. The religious imagery is shown through how the boy is seen as hope, the light amongst the dark. His god like image shows that the man does believe in God and looks to him to help him through their difficult situation. Alos the referecne to them being "Pilgrims" suggests that they are on a religious journey to a place of great religious importance, for them this could be the shore. Perhaps the man views the journey as a challenge sent by God, and by making it to the sacred place their troubles will be over.