From Deconstruction To Construction-a Critical Study Of Cormac Mccarthy’s The Road

Cormac McCarthy has been regarded as one of the most important livingAmerican writers. His novel The Road (2006) won several literary awards includingthe Pulitzer Prize in2007. It is a post-apocalyptic novel about a father and his sontrudging southwards to survive in a doomsday setting, which conveys a powerfulwarning to the world today. The thesis applies deconstruction theory to approach TheRoad, a novel revealing features of deconstruction both in its content and form. Bydepicting a deconstructed world, the novel demonstrates the theme of constructingpositive energy in humanity and appealing for peace in human world and harmonybetween human and nature.The thesis analyzes the features of deconstruction in the content of the novel interms of subversion of anthropocentrism, subversion of the binary opposition of goodand evil and the “différance” of the “road”. Then it discusses the features ofdeconstruction in the form of the novel through the analysis of the arrangement ofstructure and the portrayal of characters. Finally it explores McCarthy’s constructionin the theme, including construction of harmony between human and nature, goodnessin humanity, and hope. The thesis illustrates the deconstructed world revealed in thenovel, which shows McCarthy’s deep concern of the bleak future of human beings.Deconstruction in the content and form aims at constructing positive values.McCarthy skillfully conveys his oppositions to anthropocentrism, war and irrationaldevelopment, and his appeal for harmony between human and nature, peace in humanworld and cherishing the present.