Cormac McCarthys Essay Topics on The Road

Cormac McCarthy's Essay Topics on The RoadCormac McCarthy's best selling The Road is one of the best book series ever written. It's well worth reading for a classic by this guy, for his lyrical writing and captivating descriptions of the rugged backwoods culture.And, there are many other essays about The Road, from Tom Wolfe to James Wood to James Grant to Cormac McCarthy himself. They all have their unique views and take on the book. But there is one important thing that is frequently left out, and it's crucial to understanding The Road: the long, drawn out and sometimes controversial ending.Some authors will tell you the ending will be unsatisfying, as they've never read the book, but this simply isn't true. A lot of people don't like the ending, but most readers find it satisfying, and by the time you get to the ending you'll be ready to move on.The reason this isn't mentioned is that there are three theories of what the ending of The Road means. Some say it signifies something im portant about his character. Others think it's meant to symbolize some sort of religious struggle. Still others think it's simply meant to indicate how our hero has been portrayed by other characters.One theory put forth by the author, Cormac McCarthy, in his essay, 'The Road,' is that the ending symbolizes something of his own personality, that his particular struggle between being left behind and being an outsider has finally reached its end. 'When the main character finally accepts the fact that he cannot go on, then we realize that it was the price he had to pay,' he wrote. 'When you understand the truth behind the fear, then you understand the book itself.' That sounds a little bit like what Taylor Fresco says in the character's last scene.In his essay, McCarthy explained that the book begins as a vehicle to talk about such large themes as death, life, the meaning of love, and the nature of sacrifice. 'I tried to answer these questions without sacrificing my own personal perspe ctive on the subject,' he wrote. 'It would have been convenient for me to sweep away the whole history of man and everything he stands for, and start again, but I could not make that choice. Sab e has to come full circle at least once.'But if you want to see the journey from boyhood to writing of The Road, which truly starts at the end of street urchin Ernest Hemingway's life, you'll be happy to hear that there is a website devoted to it, which collects more than 500 short essays about the book. From the famous quotes and novels and even celebrities who've said, 'I feel the Holy Ghost in me,' to how his protagonist describes his early childhood friends, this site presents all the essays in a complete package. A terrific way to learn what The Road is really about.