In times of confusion and chaos and pain…
The entirety of the novel The Roadseems to test the doctrine of faith and why it is necessary. The characters are forced to hold onto it despite the darkness and destruction around them. Because of this, McCarthy is able to take the idea of faith by choice and places it in a situation where faith is the only option outside of death. His characters must seek the shelter of fire in order to escape the destruction of it. They must believe when they do not see reason to do so. They must trust in each other because each other is all that remains. The reader must find comfort in the father’s promise, “I will not send you into the darkness alone” (239).
