OK, so this is the other infamous passage in The Road. The Man and The Boy happen upon a campfire with a spit. On the spit there's the charred body of an infant. This is probably the most horrifying image in the book, but it's worth shifting our gaze to The Man's response. He picks up The Boy (because he wants to keep him safe?) and carries him to the road. Then he apologizes to The Boy. And isn't this how parents respond when the less attractive parts of life encroach upon their children? They apologize both for how terrible the world can be and that they let down their guard, somehow allowing the kid to see the world at its worst.

Ooh, this passage gives us the chills. The Man takes himself to task for believing in the hopeful falsehood that there are people (ancestors or forbearers or what have you) watching over him and holding him accountable for his actions. The apocalyptic catastrophe wiped out everything, including human history and morality.

Here, again, The Boy says something that shows his generosity. Instead of greedily scavenging only for himself, The Boy thinks that if they had saved the baby they could feed it. But isn't this generosity on The Boy's part also a reflection of his father? Can't we say that The Man teaches The Boy – despite the daily horrors surrounding them – by showering love on him, which in turn makes The Boy decent and kind?