Cormac McCarthy author of the fictional novel "The Road" uses the father as a realistic illusion to portray the meaning of enduring love. This is shown throughout the story as the father is constantly looking over his son as they savage for food and shelter. The story takes the reader on their post apocalyptic journey as they struggle to stay alive when all they have is each other. Resources are low and the fathers objective is to keep his son alive. "In a pocket of his knapsack he found a last half packet of cocoa and he fixed it for the boy and then poured his own cup with hot water.." (pg34) As a father it's only instinct to make sure his son is in a well state. He puts the child first and doesn't leave him on an empty stomach even if the proportion was reasonable to share. "He withdrew his hand slowly and sat looking at a coca cola" "what is it papa?" "It's a treat for you.. I want you to drink it."(pg23) Since they've set out on foot, they haven't found anything appetizing. So upon finding the drink the father neglects his thirst as he gives it up to his son. The matter of giving it to him as a reward comes to show his stance on trying to give his son a break from what they're going through. It was a way for him to feel like a kid again to be able to drink a soda as he quenched in thirst. So anything the father could find was giving to the child to provide him with some sort of happiness, in a sense that things were staring to look up. This mainly came from the fathering knowing what his son had been through and that his childhood was taken from him as he had to grow up quick and cope with how things were. They scavenged through the woods and were vulnerable since they didn't have a stable place to stay. From this the father knew he would have to go beyond measures for their survival even if it meant leaving the child alone. "I'll be able to hear you if you call.. take the gun.." "I don't want the gun." "I didn't ask you if you wanted it, take it," (pg70) The gun symbolized security so for the father to go out to scavenge for things they needed and leave the gun with the son shows the limits he'd take risking his own life for his child. In which comes to show how much the father loved his son. The sacrifices he took for his sons well being. Sending out the message that even at the face of death, you will always have the love of your family with you till the very end.