The+Moral+Wasteland+3

Moral Wasteland

 Quotes of Immorality:

Demoralizing Images:
 * "You can think of me as a faithless slut if you like. I've taken a new lover. He can give me what you cannot. Death is not a lover. Oh yes he is." (McCarthy 57)
 * "The boy's knapsack was gone. Coming back he found the bones and the skin piled together with rocks over them. A pool of guts. He pushed the bones witht he toe of his shoe. They looked to have been boiled. No piece of clothing." (McCarthy 70-71)
 * "You should thank him you know, the man said. I wouldnt have given you anything. Maybe I should and maybe I shouldnt. Why wouldnt you? I wouldnt have given him mine. You dont care it hurts his feelings? Will it hurt his feelings? No. That's not why he did it. Why did he do it? He looked over at the boy and he looked at the old man. You wouldnt understand, he said. I'm not sure I do. Maybe he believes in God. I don't know what he believes in. He'll get over it. No he wont." (McCarthy 173-174)
 * "What the boy had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit. . .I'm sorry, he whispered. I'm sorry." (McCarthy 198)
 * "He bent and scooped up the rags in his arms and piled them on top of the shoes. He stood there holding himself. Don't do this, man. You didnt mind doing it to us. I'm begging you. Papa, the boy said. Come on. Listen to the kid. You tried to kill us. I'm starving, man. You'd have done the same. You took everything. Come on, man. I'll die. I'm going to leave you the way you left us." (McCarthy 257)



Conclusion: The theme of the "moral wasteland" is presented throughout the journey of the Man and the Boy and their experience with both the "good guys" and the "bad guys". The most obvious demonstrations of the loss of morality is demonstrated by the various nefarious groups that wander the wasteland. The road agents demonstrate the lesser of the two evils in the wasteland by commiting theft and murder. The bloodcultists show the extreme loss of morality by not only murdering but cannibalizing their victims. They also partake in slavery of innocents as well as theft. However, despite all the decay of morality their was a "shine" of hope, a "carrying of the fire". The Father and Boy demonstrate how the best in man is brought out in disaster by their sharing of food and their trying to help others throughout their quest south. The quotes we chose to share were ones that we felt captured this duality of the best and worst in man. The media we chose to portray our theme was implemented because we wanted to show the audience a real demonstration of these characters and brief summary of their beliefs and the moral wasteland in a more safe situation. \

Discussion Questions: 1. In modern times there have been cannibals portrayed in cinema and in real life (ex. Jeffrey Dahmer and Hannibal Lecter). Do you think that the bloodcultists in the road are criminal in their actions or is it a matter of survival?

2. Do you believe there are certain matters in whcih immoral behaviors can be considered ok? To what extreme should these behaviors be taken?