Annie, 3 Questions

This time I asked some questions that were too deep for me too answer :)
So, please understand if my answers are from mars. (Or even further.... from another galaxy?)


What is the definition of ‘Good Guys’ to the man? Why does the man think that they are the only ‘Good Guys’ and that there are many ‘Bad Guys’?

At first, I thought the man’s definition for good guys are people who don’t eat other humans. However, the man seemed so certain that there weren’t many good guys. (Actually, he thought there were almost none.) That means the definition that I thought of was wrong. If my definition was right, then the man wouldn’t be so certain that there aren’t many good guys on the road.

So, I remembered that when I was reading the book, I kept on feeling that the man was being kind of unfair. He kept on saying that all the others are bad guys. To me, he seemed like he was trying to force the boy to think in the same way as him.

Then, a sudden thought came to me. Maybe it wasn’t a matter of WHO the bad guys are. Maybe the man just wanted the boy to be more cautious. If the boy thought everyone else except for the two of them were bad guys, he would be much more careful. Currently, the boy is willing to help other survivors. This, may be fatal to the boy if he meets a dangerous person. So, the man may have wanted to prevent the boy from actually ‘Walking into danger’.

But then, at the end of this part of the book, the man tells the boy that the good guys are hiding from them. He now says there are good guys. Why? I’m so confused!!!!


While the man is speaking to another person, there are many parts where two very similar sentences repeat, why does this happen so often?

There are mainly two parts where this seems to happen. When the man is talking to the boy, the man repeats the words the boy said, I believe he does so because he wants to show that he’s certain about the answer that he is giving to the boy. In many parts of the book, the boy seems uncertain or disbelieving of the things the man tells him. So, in order to convince the boy that he is right or to make the boy feel more comfortable, the man seems to repeat the phrases.

Another time this happens a lot is when he is talking to the old man. In these cases the man seems to speak in a very unique way. Most of the times, (Well…..almost all of the times) the man says things in statements instead of asking questions. He makes some kind of hypothesis in his mind than asks the old man whether the thought the man had is correct or not. In these types, the old man repeats what the man had said to indicate that the assumption was correct.


What does being on ‘The Road’ mean?

From the first part of the book, I had this question on my mind. It came clear when the old man said “I was always on the road. You cant stay in one place.” (p.168).

From the first part of the book, I couldn’t understand how there could be a road (a very long one that stretches out to the South). It seems that the world the man lived in is the same as the world we live in now. But, in my world, there is no road that stretches out that far. Since it is very unlikely that they built one after the apocalypse so that was why I thought the road isn't a road literally.

So, I gained a hint from the old man’s saying that maybe going on the road just means that they are heading towards the destination that they should be heading for. I think I heard a saying that being on the right road means you are heading in the right direction. So, I thought it just meant they are heading for the South so they are on the road.

But then, it seems so confusing that there are many people who go along the same road. It is really unlikely to meet others if they are just moving to reach each their destination. And, the man wouldn't be worrying about being on the road and meeting cannibals in the first place.

Maybe.... the so-called Pilgrims made the road?!?!?!?!?
Who are the Pilgrims?

Oh My GOD! This is driving me mad!
Somebody, Anybody, please help me before my brain explodes~ ㅜㅜ