Imagine a desolate and dismal world deteriorating with scant supplies of food and shelter and only a few survivors, including yourself and one of your family members. In hopes of surviving, what steps would you take? Would you go to the extreme of cannibalizing or committing suicide? On the other hand, would you choose to take an ethical path by gently grasping life? In the midst of an empty, steadfast world with virtually no hope, the father and son of Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road choose to be the "good guys" by staying alive and refraining from cannibalism and theft. They were desperately trying to stay alive by wandering like nomads looking for shelter, edible food, and avoiding "bad guys" from preying on them for food. The unconditional love between father and son sustained their struggle to live and try to remain as ethical as possible. The father and son search for shelter and food in unused commercial stores and the son encounters many dead bodies and wonders if they were going to die as well. The boy is paralyzed by the adversity and suffering he faced throughout his unforgiving journey with his father. The boy wonders about their fate. He suggests that he is worried about the future. When the boy awoke from his peaceful sleep, he innocently asked his father if “[they] were going to die” (11). His father replied: “One day, but not now” (11). The father answered the question bluntly, knowing he could not hide the inevitability of death. However, the father insisted that they will strive to stay alive, no matter what difficulties the circumstances bring. The father wants to cling to life with delicacy, even in the middle of a dangerous and isolated world. The father's motivation to stay alive is to spend time with his son and not lose hope. The father was very determined to keep the fire going and to maintain hope of staying alive. The son believes his father and follows his ideals while maintaining his determination. Unfortunately, his mother has given up hope. While contemplating suicide, the mother declares that “sooner or later they will catch them and kill them.” They are going to rape her. They will rape [the boy]” (101). The mother confidently declares that they will be raped and killed by bloodthirsty thugs..