What do the cannibals represent in the road?

Cannibalism in The Road is both a constant threat to the boy and his father and a way to distinguish good guys from bad guys. Their encounters with cannibals show us the brutality of their world, but it also shows us their commitment to maintaining a moral code.

Is there cannibalism in the road book?

The concept of cannibalism is essential for the dark vision laid out by Cormac McCarthy in his novel The Road (2006). Finally, a focus on cannibalism allows reexamination of important issues for McCarthy scholarship such as the human/nature binary and consumer society.

Are tribals cannibals?

The Mohawk, and the Attacapa, Tonkawa, and other Texas tribes were known to their neighbours as ‘man-eaters.'” The forms of cannibalism described included both resorting to human flesh during famines and ritual cannibalism, the latter usually consisting of eating a small portion of an enemy warrior.

What does Ely symbolize in The Road?

Ely then represents the state of humanity and the level of despair to which it has descended. The boy’s kindness is the way in which he will rescue people from their current plight. Even though Ely denies the existence of God, there is the subtle suggestion that the boy might restore hope.

Are they cannibals at the end of The Road?

It’s posited that Guy Pearce’s character and his companions are actually cannibals rather than the saviors they seem to be and have been following the boy until his father died in hopes of securing their next meal.

Why does the man apologize to the boy when they reach the sea?

The man hopes that the coast will offer hope, but he knows he has no reason to believe this will be true. They eat sparingly and when they do finally reach the coast, they find that life isn’t much different there. The sea isn’t blue, and the man apologizes to the disappointed boy.

What is the fear of cannibalism called?

The fear of cannibals (anthropophagusphobia) is only found in humans.

Why does the boy give food to Ely?

He sees the poor condition that Ely is in and wants to help him. He trusts that others are good. As a sign of goodwill, the boy convinces his father to give Ely a tin of fruit. Ely quickly consumes the food but offers no gratitude.