Key Episode 3- Finding the cellar of naked and mutilated people

Key Episode 3- Finding the cellar of naked and mutilated people

The beginning of this episode when describing their surroundings is extremely detailed which could reflect how the man is reminiscing about the reality of the past that he was familiar with. For example the “yellow dental and “Fine Morris” are decorations and items that are now ruined and engulfed by the post-apocalyptic atmosphere. There is a sense of stagnancy as everything remains as though it is frozen in particular places and create a sense of suspicion for the reader. It also relates back to the idea of a decaying and abandoned world “peeling paint” and “ancient”.  Even pure naturalistic elements such as snow are grey and contaminated, hence why the father may be trying to remember the past so vividly. The quotation from when the father is looking for something to open the cellar with, “he saw but did not see” could convey the irony of how we live all around nature and beautiful creations and see them every day but never stop and actually see their true beauty. My first impression of this house, created an air of uncertainty and danger, similar to a haunted house (relating to the B horror movies that McCarthy used).  The repetition of commas and full stops creates an apprehension within the characters of the fear of the unknown as they approach the cellar but as they use the light and discover what is there, their sentences become longer and more complex.

Once again, the boy seeks reassurance from his father who appears to begin to feel a strain on distancing himself from the boy as it is evident that they are both becoming more aware that they may lose each other. McCarthy beings to make a frequent reference to the man holding the boys hand to display the bond that they have and the connection they hold on the brink of starvation.  There is a contrast in the characters frames of mind when they are inspecting their surroundings, the boy is terrified and as he “whispered” it creates an air of something that is haunting them however the father is unaware of this and is thinking practically on what they will be able to take. It could be interpreted that as the boy is “almost in tears” he may know something that the father doesn't and be pleading to take him away and as the boy also questions and doubts why they are there is an air of uncertainty.  Personally, I feel this extract is highly emotive as when the father and son find the bodies ironically although they call for help, the man and boy need help also.   When the father is trying to teach the boy how to kill himself if they come for them, it captures the way human nature has evolved which is horrific yet it could be seen as a sign of compassion as their is only one bullet left and the father wants the son to use it so that he is free.  The pistol is once again regarded as their safety and reassurance.

McCarthy, heavily influenced by American horror movies, creates a scene of something with a typical stereotype of what would appear within this genre.  The clothes piled on the floor that they see before they go into the cellars, may relate to the WW2 holocaust and a sense of foreshadowing what they will find.   By constantly referring to the senses, “ungodly stench” it could haunt the reader and create a disturbing, realistic image of the gore of mutilated people in front of the man and boys eyes.  A reference to Christianity is also implied by “ungodly” as if they have been abandoned by God and his guidance.  The man frequently appeals to God, “Oh Christ” which could be a reference to him appealing to save the boy from this horrific scene.  Humanity has been destroyed and it is harrowing how far humans would go to be able to survive, perhaps they have a fear of death?  There is a climax of tension once they are in the cellar as the man “hisses” too scared to speak which is portrayed through the pace of the long sentences at points and then the abrupt phrasing, “run, run.”  When they are hiding away from the house, they are still unable to escape the “shrieks” which creates an atmosphere of torture and contrasts with the whispers that they heard when they were in the cellar of “help us”.  Another element of foreshadowing is the mention of “chattels slaves” as it sets the scene for the mutilated people to convey that evil has never left the earth.