In the aftermath of a catastrophic event that has left the world a post-nuclear wasteland, most of humanity and just about all animals have been wiped out. In this bleak environment, a boy and his father, who are never named, are heading south, towards the coast, to escape the onslaught of winter. The world through which they travel is endlessly bleak, with bitterly cold conditions.

Conditions on the road are extremely dangerous, with cannibals on the prowl. The duo also encounter others like themselves, who are trying to survive in the barren wasteland that the world has become. It is with one such family that the boy finds refuge after the death of his father.

The fact that people are still on the move, and have not given up, tells us that this is also a journey towards hope.

In the novel, The Road, the two main characters are on a journey to the coast. They are unyielding to get there. The whole structure of the novel goes towards this final destination. However, the idea of the road or journey is highly symbolic as well.

On one level, the journey or road symbolizes the pursuit of something better in a world that has gone awry in a serious way. As the novel progresses, the readers come to realize that humanity is seriously compromised as most humans have become bestial and uncaring. For instance, the man and the boy constantly need to be aware of cannibalistic gangs.

On another level, the journey or road symbolizes hope. The man and the boy do not give up hope. They believe that the road will lead to a better place. There believe that there are others like them, that is people who have not given up hope on humanity.