America is based on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We make ourselves happy. Our own desires to prosper and find happiness are completely our own. Each individual has their own motivations for doing one thing or another. This internal fire is what drives us to pursue it.
Everyone's internal fire is exactly like one you would build in your very own fireplace. At first, you put some logs on and light the fire. It starts very small, but undoubtedly there. As babies and young children we aren't aware of what we want outside of what's right in front of our eyes. Next, you kindle the fire to make it grow. We see this in everyone's adolescence as individualism is gained and the kids begin to realize what they want in life. Now the fire roars as the adult pursues what they truly want to do in life. From here it is just a matter of keeping the fire alive and roaring. Logs are added to keep it going, to keep the pursuit of happiness alive. But in the end all fires must die down and go out.
The internal fire shown in The Road:
And nothing bad is going to happen to us.-McCarthy 70
That's right.
Because we're carrying the fire.
Yes. Because we're carrying the fire.
This point in the story is one of the first times the fire is brought up. The way McCarthy speaks makes it seem like the boy sees it as this absolutely majestic impenetrable fortress of life. And in a way it is. The fire really contrasts with the post apocalyptic world they are in which makes it seem that much more prominent and beautiful.
Because we're the good guys.-McCarthy 108-109
Yes.
And we're carrying the fire.
And we're carrying the fire. Yes.
Once again the fire is mentioned. The boy now connects the fire with good guys which in this story simply means their motives are pure and moral. Those who lead an honest and generous life are often awarded in America.
The salt wood burned orange and blue in the fire's heart and he sat watching it a long time.-McCarthy 200
To me this was a scene in which the father had begun to loose his fire. He was slowly dying and watching what was left of his fire.
The fire flared in the wind and sparks raced away down the sand.-McCarthy 200
The father's fire has one last burst. He has a strong desire to do all he can for his son but at this point he can't do much more.
I want to be with you.-McCarthy 234
You cant.
Please.
You cant. You have to carry the fire.
I dont know how to.
Yes you do.
Is it real? The fire?
Yes it is.
Where is it? I dont know where it is.
Yes you do. It's inside you. It was always there. I can see it.
This is the conversation right before the father's fire goes out. Now the boy has to keep his fire going by himself.
The father's reason to keep his fire going was simply for his son. There was no other reason he had to live for. Your fire might be going for your family or your career or your love. But no matter what the reason may be, we all do have at least one reason to keep our internal fire going.
Death is inevitable
It is inarguable that death is one of the most prominent aspects of McCarthy's story. We see it absolutely everywhere. There are a number of times where they encounter death such as corpses, mutilated bodies, heads in cake bells, a charred decapitated infant, and many other gruesome sights. While this story takes it to the extreme, it does express an undeniable truth-death will come to us all in the end.
Are we going to die?-McCarthy 9
Sometime. Not now.
The following line is my undoubtedly favorite line from the whole story. It shows how prominent death is in the world they live. It is a world in which not even dreams can survive.
Ten thousand dreams ensepulchred within their crozzled hearts-McCarthy 230
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