Need help on the ending of The Road by Cormac McCarthy?

Question

I don't understand my essay topic, because I haven't finished the whole book, so can someone help me. I don't understand what it means by spiritual reassessment and moral reconciliation. my topic is..

The British novelist Fay Weldon offers this observation about happy endings: “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events – a marriage or a last minute rescue from death – but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” How does The Road have the kind of happy ending Weldon describes? In a well-written essay, identify the “spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its significance in the work as a whole.

thanks !

Answer 1

sam? lol u have Talas? im doing the essay on the last minute too :)

was on google search for “spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation” and i saw ur post LOL

Answer 2

I suppose you could interpret the ending the The Road as being happy. Even though the boy's father dies, the boy is welcomed into the group of travelers and it appears that he will be taken care of.

However; the closing paragraph of the book leaves a feeling of despair.

Its a warning. Where there were once fish, there never will be again. What man has done, cannot be undone.