The Road by Cormac McCarthy discussion

"The clocks stopped at 1:17. A long shear of light and then a series of low concussions."page 52. Do you guys think that 1:17 has a specific significance? The only thing that I could think of was possibly a reference to a Bible verse. I found that James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning".

What are your guys' thoughts on this?

Wow, that's really cool. I don't know if it actually has any significance, but it reminds me of the biblical god-sent flood in reference to the book. I imagine that God's great gift is some sort of meteor shower of that falls from "above" to wipe humans off the face of the earth. Perhaps instead of an ark, it is the boy and the man that must "carry the fire" this time.

I would have thought Bible verse too. It's interesting though that this verse is about God's gifts just because it seems that 1:17 would be the moment that God's gifts stopped coming. But perhaps that's the point. Or maybe it's another verse of the Bible. I'm not sure. I want to think about this one for a bit.

Ya I agree with Westra in the idea that the boy and his father must "carry the fire." However, I would have to say that I think its may only be the boy who must carry the fire because like in other discussions, the father is his guardian and could just be protecting him on his journey.

Howdy, all. I hate to come to the party late, but I noticed this discussion and felt compelled to point out the significance of 1:17. First of all, it's not a reference to John 1:17 (if it had been, it would've been grossly inappropriate sarcasm, all things considered). Having considered numerous passages of the same chapter and verse, I concluded long ago that if a biblical reference was indeed intended, it would have to be Timothy 1:17.

Consider what's transpired in the novel's world up to the point in question: Man is at the zenith of his technological and artistic achievement, to the extent that he largely views himself as his own god. And all of that is wiped out forever at 1:17. "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." -Timothy 1:17

Even later to the party to say no all around. It's not a reference to Timothy or John. Timothy might be right if this were The Road by Tim LaHaye, but it's not. McCarthy's protagonist, and the general tone of the book, is agnostic at best (consider the line "There is no God, and we are his prophets") Revelation 1:17 is the reference.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.'"

Source: The fact that this book is about the end of the world and that Revelation makes the most sense, and the Cambridge Companion.

Harold wrote: "Howdy, all. I hate to come to the party late, but I noticed this discussion and felt compelled to point out the significance of 1:17. First of all, it's not a reference to John 1:17 (if it had been..."

And I take issue with the statement "grossly inappropriate sarcasm." To you, maybe. I think it would have been a nice bit of irony. Reading this like a Christian text doesn't really work.

Take issue as much as you like, but Timothy 1:17 still applies, for reasons that I listed earlier. And as for reading it like a Christian text, how else would one read a passage from the New Testament? lmao In any case, you don't even make any attempt to explain how the specific content of Revelation 1:17 would be the least bit analogous. Just because Revelation is about the Apocalypse is no conclusive reason in and of itself. If it were, then the chapter and verse wouldn't matter, only the book itself. Clearly, the specific content would have meaning, and I still await your explanation as to how Rev. 1:17 applies.

Hi everyone. Here James 1:17 suits my reading of this particular scene. "Every good and perfect gift is from above". In the same paragraph there is an allusion to the wife being pregnant ("cradling her belly in one hand"), with the boy. The apocalypse is not God's doing and the boy's innocence (I'm sorry it's an overused word) is His "good and perfect gift" to mankind, perhaps.

What's interesting is that all of these can be applied. And interpretation being what it is, numerous biblical texts can apply:

Genesis 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth

Leviticus 1:17 and he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Or it may refer to something that is in no way biblical. Maybe it's an inside joke of some kind, On the periodic table element 117 is Tennessine, McCarthy's earliest work is from Tennessee.

I've never read that he's given a definitive answer.

Hi, I just wanted to add to the idea of Revelation 1:17 being applicable (though I believe James 1:17 is the definite one).

I believe the "do not be afraid" can mean to not fear our own mortality, especially since John "fell at his feet as though dead" (despite this probably being hyperbolic). As such, I believe McCarthy is hinting at how, even when humanity is all but gone, we should continue to hold on to hope, whether through our faith in Him, or the boy that has "to carry the fire" - which then connects Rev 1:17 with James 1:17.

I also just realized how bloody late I am to this discussion, but I'm currently writing an essay on The Road and found this whole thread extremely useful, so I just wanted to share something I'd just thought of thanks to you guys.

Interesting that no one has mentioned Mark 1:17 in this discussion yet. "And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'"

Given the very cryptic fish imagery at the very end, and given that the boy in "carrying the fire" could be said to be "following" the spirit of Christ, it is a possible reference to the boy's future as a leader in bringing humanity back to a certain way of living that is less barbaric.