I've read that as well. I had an interesting conversation a few days ago with a friend about this question — what it does to NOT have the cause specified. If McCarthy is true to his word in saying that it is not meant as a social commentary or grander allegory, then the cause of the disaster doesn't matter at all (for him). But if one wa…
I've read that as well. I had an interesting conversation a few days ago with a friend about this question — what it does to NOT have the cause specified. If McCarthy is true to his word in saying that it is not meant as a social commentary or grander allegory, then the cause of the disaster doesn't matter at all (for him). But if one wants to consider it one of those things, then the cause changes the meaning of the commentary and allegory considerably — a natural disaster, a human-made action, an accident of some sort, a supernatural event, an extraterrestrial event... each of these would really change the "meaning" of The Road quite a bit, if one were looking for that sort of meaning in it.
You're absolutely right. Also, I think a tale works better if the ordinary 'man on the street' character, and by extension the reader/viewer, has no clue as to what's going on. Romero's 'Dead' films do that well and it allows a stronger, more grounded, story to take place.
I've read that as well. I had an interesting conversation a few days ago with a friend about this question — what it does to NOT have the cause specified. If McCarthy is true to his word in saying that it is not meant as a social commentary or grander allegory, then the cause of the disaster doesn't matter at all (for him). But if one wants to consider it one of those things, then the cause changes the meaning of the commentary and allegory considerably — a natural disaster, a human-made action, an accident of some sort, a supernatural event, an extraterrestrial event... each of these would really change the "meaning" of The Road quite a bit, if one were looking for that sort of meaning in it.
You're absolutely right. Also, I think a tale works better if the ordinary 'man on the street' character, and by extension the reader/viewer, has no clue as to what's going on. Romero's 'Dead' films do that well and it allows a stronger, more grounded, story to take place.