This is arguably the most important theme of the novel, providing the reader with the most material to analyse. The two characters are never named making their familial relationship their whole identity rather than their own individual traits. McCarthy, then, makes their relationship generalisable to any father/son relationship that exists within and outside of the novel.
“Then they set out along the blacktop in the gunmetal light, shuffling through the ash, each the other’s world entire.” (p. 4)
As the world has gone to destruction, it seems that it is a natural progression for the only person left in one’s life to become their sole focus. However as the novel moves on it becomes apparent that there is humanity outside of their relationship but they fail to see it through fear and paranoia of human contact. See also my essay on desocialisation as to how their relationship effects the way they interact with the wider world.
The father/son relationship in this novel, however, is unlike the stereotype. Whilst the father is still instructive and proud of his son, he also fails to instill optimism and hope in his child. The child asks: “Are we going to die?” and his father replies “Some time. Not Now.” (p. 9) Though the father’s honest answer can be perceived as having honorable intention, in a world where there is little to hope or live for the father gives his son little incentive to move through the world happily.
Those who wish to look deeper into the relationship of the father and son should consider how he protects his son from danger and how the son in turn protects his father.
