Make a long and detailed essay on Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

 

The essay should be based on the following prompt: 

Throughout Cormac McCarthy's The Road, the man reassures his son that "we're the good guys." Despite this repeated claim, the man is weary of helping anyone they encounter in their travels. If he softens, it is only after his son pleads with him, but, even then, he is only willing to help up to a point. What is the novel trying to say about "goodness"? Is the man's claim "we're the good guys" to be trusted? Or is it just something he tells his son to make him feel better?

 

Make sure: have a title that is both creative and descriptive;

• have a thesis, i.e., an overarching argument about the novel you are analyzing;
• use the common introductory paragraph structure to set up your argument, including a statement of significance addressing the "so-what" question;
• effectively integrate direct quotations from both primary and secondary sources;
• use the surface-depth method of analysis on key quotations from the primary text to help substantiate and develop you argument;
• adhere to the general principles of "the uneven u" when structuring your paragraphs;
• engage effectively with at least one secondary source;
• have a conclusion that re-articulates your thesis while also re-emphasizing the significance of your analysis;
• citations;
• be clear and easy to read.