Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel has recently commanded the attention of scholars with regard to ethics and morality. The clear Schopenhaurian/Hobbsian world in which the boy and father exist draws our attention to this metaphorical discussion and the use of light and dark as metaphorical symbols of ethical behavior or existence. In our study, we looked at imagery representing ‘light’ and ‘dark’ in an effort to consider the metaphorical significance of the boy and his father surviving in the world McCarthy created. This essay will examine that question. Specifically: Using your close reading of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, examine the use of dark and light imagery and discuss its metaphorical use to explain how the boy and the father ‘carry the fire’ morally and ethically in the post-apocalyptic environment of the novel. Use SEVERAL key moments from the book and develop citations in a structured, academic essay to answer the question. -MLA Citation Method -6-7 pages (10 max) -11 point font, double-spaced -Default font (GoogleDocs) -Thesis driven, academic essay