Response to Schaub and The Road

I think that Schaub's interpretation of The Road was insightful and touched upon many of the topics that I personally had been thinking about. For example, as we have talked about in class, I think that Schaub does a nice job bringing attention to paradoxical role of fire in the novel stating that McCarthy utilizes the symbol of fire as "the sacred fire of human spirit" as well as "the demonic fires of apocalypse" (Schaub 161). It seems that wether the "fire" takes on a destructive or healing role depends on the wielder of the flame. For instance, Schaub believes that the boy is "in some sense a receptacle for any number of related ideas, including the consecrated elements of the Eucharist and the body of God" (163). I have to agree with Schaub that McCarthy uses many religious allusions to emphasize the potential of the boy. Not only is the boy a youth (which is associated with life, vitality etc.), but he also recognizes, what Schaub believes is, "the divinity within himself" by saying, "I am the one" (162).

An interesting point that Schaub brings up at this point is the relationship between the characters and the reader. He says, " their two meanings --the secular and the sacred -- co-exist within the text, for the words 'I am the one' signify both for the reader" (162). I think that this is an really interesting point because I do agree with Schaub that "The Road has the form of a spiritual journey" (154) and I might even go so far as to say that I think McCarthy not only brings the man and the boy on a spiritual journey, but also attempts at bring about the same results on the readers. Schaub makes a really interesting point about the conclusion the novel where time is dislocated and reverts back to a narrative form.

        On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world
        in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a think which could not be put
        back. Not be made right again. in the deep glens where they lived all things
       were older than man and they hummed of mystery. (McCarthy 286)

Schaub brings attention to "the grammar of reference and antecedent [that] actually suggests something quite different" (Schaub 165). Because the this conclusion is written in a narrative form which creates a "position of the storyteller above the story, for whom the history of the road is entirely spatial" (166), it gives off a feeling that this whole story was perhaps an allegory, designed to warn mankind of its potential for destruction. This idea of a "storyteller" that is on the 'outside' looking back at that moment from the world that was already "in its becoming" ultimately gives off a sense of hope. That even if the old world can "not be made right again", there is still possibility in the boy (with his fire) to create a new world.
Furthermore, Schaub talks about how the man and the boy do not posses names and further contributing to creating a fable-like style of writing. Drawing again on the idea of a "storyteller", Schaub's ideas that The Road is a spiritual tale seems to be entirely correct. In addition however, I would probably say it is also an exploration human potential to change their world (as the boy may be able to do) even if the old world can no longer exist the way it did.