Saturday, March 14, 2009
Themes
What is the importance of fire in this novel? In my mind, fire plays two roles--the destruction of humanity and/or the hope to carry on. Fire, and the effects of fire, is seen everywhere in this novel, from the burned out towns to the layers of ash covering everything. Which instance of fire is more influential to the main characters? The fire of destruction or the fire which enables them to carry on?
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Fire seems to be hope. It is often used in the dark of night to comfort the father and son. When they are cold and beated by the rough travel at the end of the day knowing that they can depend in that fire to warm them shows that there is still hope. It is very symbolic in that the fire stands alone, in the dark world burning strong. Just as they travel alone in this gloomy world without anyone else really around.
I didn't see too many fire images in this novel. True, the father says that they are "carrying the fire" but other than that...
The presence of ashes is a stretched metaphor.I think of how early humans carried light(knowledge)a.k.a. how to make tools,trade,grow crops, and make fire.Fire symbolizes survival. It gives warmth, it's light improves your mood and makes you less afraid of the dangers present outdoors at night.
I think fire is seemed as the sense of light in this book, as long as the boy and his father have fire everything will be ok. I think that when they see the people burnt into the ashes it shows them that they aren't far away from the initial problem because it was so hot. I believe fire was the most influential when they boys father used it to dry there clothes out and keep warm. This was a very important moment for them.
The fire which enables them to carry on is more influential. It signifies their want to keep knowing what's out there the next day. I see fire as a symbol of hope and persistence to find civilization.
I think that the "fire" that the father refers to is just another term for hope. Even if the fire that the father talks about is in fact a literal fire it is still a sign of hope to the people who see it. If there is a person still alive, and they see the literal fire that the boy is carrying then that can be a sign of hope for the person that life is still out there and safety can be achieved.
Like everyone else said fire seem to be a good symbol or theme for this book. There is so many times through out this book when they feel like they cant go any farther like they just want to lay down and die. thats similar to a fire just hardly still going just the coals are burning nothing out then there is some wood thrown on the fire and they start back up and start walking until they find food or something that will keep them going just like the fuel of the fire.
You could argue that the fire represents the idea of the holy spirit, I mean you do have the Father and the Son, and the Son is always being compared to a messiah type person.
I agree that fire is kind of a symbol of the Holy Spirit. I also think that it is a symbol of hope that the world will change and go back to what it was before this tragic event happened.
In the novel fire is a sign of happiness or good. The instance of fire that is more influential is when the fire enables them to carry on, such as when they need warm comfort or need something to burn or dry something.
the Idea of fire in this novel is that is there for hope. The fire gives hope to the people that are using it for warmth and for light. also this fire gives hope to people who see it.
I think that the fire shows happiness and disaster, because when they find fire on there journey it keeps them warm in the cold and keeps the happy. But on the other hand it shows disaster because they think that everyone is missing because of some war and wars have huge fires in them and now everyone is gone.
Fire definitely represents the hope and will to carry on in this book. The man often encourages the boy to keep moving when he is really tired by telling him that they are carrying the fire, and this really seems to comfort the boy. The fire which enables them to carry on is definitely more influential to them because without that hope, there would be no book because the boy and man would have given up just like the mother seemed to have given up judging from the flashbacks the man has.
In my opinion I think that fire was the symbol of death in this novel. It was evident that the world was scorched from bombs and that it had a lasting effect on civilization as it likely was the cause of most death in this post apoptolytic society.
I think the symbol of fire is best described as their hope to help them carry on. I think that there is a lot of pressure on these two because they kind of have the whole human race on their back trying to find a better place to start up a civilization. I think that the fire in their lamp is the most influential because it helps them see their way to a new world.
I believe the fire most of all represents definitely the struggle that both the man and son have to go through but also everyone else. The fire mostly dealt with the man and how he struggled with fear and agony of being eaten by others to survive.
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