Lack of Government Control in McCarthy’s The Road
In The Road McCarthy displays a common theme in most post-apocalyptic works; the detrimental aspects of no government control. As the novel progresses it becomes evident to the reader how much the destruction of centralized governments and nationality effects life in the world. McCarthy makes the statement that a centralized and powerful government is paramount to rations and those commodities requisite for survival. The reader finds that all problems arising from food (or lack thereof) &c. are frequently overcome, yet the life threatening issues arise from no external and commonly excersized control, such as when the groups go around raping and eating others. To the realistic reader, the groups that have placed themselves as those able to excersize control, eating others for their own survival, seem almost like a government figure. One can draw many connections to these groups and the primates of our world many millenia ago. Thus, while their society may not be perfect, it will evolve and incoperate some type of government system, just as homonids of our world have evolved and formed our current society & government.
Note: Adam informs me my last comment didn’t post, so my apologies if this is somewhat belated, or if a comment like this appears twice.
