Statistical Information- Frequency of certain words

 Statistical Information- Frequency of certain words

after (45) ago (17) back (252) before (45) beyond (45) blackened (19), blanket (193) could (189) down (244) fire (136) man (193) okay (195) rain (44) sorry (27) time (100) water (109)

The statistical information strengthens the idea that they are trapped in a timeless phase and unable to escape. This could be portrayed in the words “after” and “before” which are repeated the same amount of times. They are unable to move forwards or backwards and they are stuck on the path (the road) that has been laid out for them. This  further relates to the constant reference to “time” as it is something that they are unable to control, similar to the word “could” being frequently repeated, they cannot say what they will do as they have no power over their own actions. The reference to the word, “back” which is the most frequent word, may infer that they always strive to be able to refer back to the past and the “reality” that they are familiar with.  However, “down”, the second most frequent word, could link to the idea of a journey into hell of which they plunge into without choice.  Water is also mentioned which is a significant symbolisation of something from their previous lives that was once clean and now, contaminated and difficult to gain.  It is also, interestingly, something that our society takes for granted as a basic necessity which ironically is not often within their grasp.  The word “blanket” is often said, an object that is also taken for granted within society, and personally, I feel that it conveys the lack of stability and comfort that the boy has. He is only able to cling onto blankets for a glimpse of warmth in a world that has been destroyed.

  The communication between the man and the boy is often full of basic words that although normally would equate to a basic conversation, for instance, “okay”, display an understanding that they may one day be separated and that nothing  can be said to make anything better. The man wants to teach the boy that he must accept things around him and the word “okay” almost becomes a term of reassurance and something that we become accustomed to in the dialogue between the two characters.  In contrast, the word “sorry” is only said twenty-seven times and could reveal that, when it is said, the true meaning of the word is captured- the two characters value what they say towards each other and by taking this word that is often meaningless to today’s society, create a truthful bond.  The reference to “man” could signify anybody and brings the purpose of this character into question as McCarthy may use the name to distance the reader and focus on the morals of the story and the relationship between the man and boy, rather than the personalities of the character. The reference to fire is said more frequently than rain and water, which strengthens the idea they are in a burning, almost satanic world and that it is suffocating (this also references to the small usage of the word ‘blackened’ which implies everything is dying). “Fire” also presents an idea of the post-apocalyptic world.