Carrying the Fire: Attachment and Resilience in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road

Abstract

This study explores the role of parent-child bonds in fostering psychological resilience in catastrophic environments, using Cormac McCarthy’s The Road as a case study. The research addresses two questions: how parent-child bonds promote resilience and how attachment theory explains this dynamic within the novel. The study employs a qualitative approach, focusing on thematic analysis of the text. Attachment theory forms the theoretical framework, emphasizing the importance of secure bonds in managing stress and sustaining hope. The findings reveal that the father-son relationship in The Road exemplifies the principles of attachment. The father acts as the boy’s protector and guide, providing emotional support and instilling moral values. The boy, in turn, offers the father a reason to survive and maintain humanity. Their shared belief in “carrying the fire” symbolizes their commitment to hope and morality. The study highlights the reciprocal nature of their bond and its role in coping with trauma. This research contributes to both literary and psychological studies, demonstrating the universal importance of attachment in fostering resilience. It emphasizes the relevance of literature in understanding trauma and recovery, offering valuable insights for real-life disaster and trauma contexts.

Keywords: The Road, Cormac McCarthy, Attachment Theory, Parent-child relationship, Psychological resilience, Post-apocalyptic literature, Trauma and survival, Emotional bonding