A Principle to Keep

               In “The Road,” Principles play a huge part in shaping the barren post-apocalyptic world that this story takes place in. As the book progresses, many principles are thrown out the window, with the threat of cannibals always present, and murder being second nature. While the overall goal in “The Road” for the man and the boy is to survive together, is it possible to do so without breaking a good amount of principles? While the two share some moments of momentary relief, they find themselves in countless situations where the person they encounter has lost a certain principle. This principle is humanity.  In times of crisis, like in “The Road,” one has to figure out what principle should they stand by through thick and thin. I think that keeping our humanity is the most important principle of all, no matter what the situation.  Humanity is the ability to sympathize, to relate, to show compassion, to understand. These traits make are what makes us human, and breaking the principle of humanity makes you something much less. In “The Road” there is a group of cannibals called blood-cults. While their goal might have been to survive through the post-apocalyptic world, they broke the principle of humanity, eating their fellow humans, making them something less than human. While the future for society in “The Road” might be bleak and chaotic, as long as people keep their humanity, there is something to live for.