The Road Sections 131-140 Quotes

The Road Sections 131-140 Quotes

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Section.Paragraph)

The Man > The Boy

Quote 4

[The Boy:] What if that little boy doesnt have anybody to take care of him? he said. What if he doesnt have a papa?

[The Man:] There are people out there. They were just hiding.

[. . .]

[The Boy:] I'm afraid for that little boy.

[The Man:] I know. But he'll be all right.

[The Boy:] We should go get him, Papa. We could get him and take him with us. We could take him and we could take the dog. The dog could catch something to eat.

[The Man:] We cant.

[The Boy:] And I'd give that little boy half of my food.

[The Man:] Stop it. We cant.

He [The Boy] was crying again. What about the little boy? he sobbed. What about the little boy? (132.2-132.12)

In this instance, The Boy's compassion strikes us as a little more complicated than purely unselfish generosity. He perhaps sees himself in this other little boy. When he sobs over him, he's also sobbing over his own misery. Or, seen another way, The Boy has come to depend on his father so much that he can't imagine life without him, so what about this little boy who seems to have no one at all?