This episode shows that it is every man for himself in this post modern reality; as the man is very quick to avoid this man at all costs, despite not knowing whether he is a ‘good guy’ or not. This also indicates that the man is unwilling to provide any aid/help to anyone other than his son as he is his priority. By hurrying past the man who has been struck by lightning, the boy is concerned as they are meant to be the ‘good guys’ but do nothing to help him. The boy is quite persistent about helping the man ‘can’t we help him papa?’ the man while seeming unfair is being practical as they can’t afford to waste supplies on someone who essentially can’t be saved.
By the child pleading to help someone it provokes an emotional tie with both characters (the boy and the man-who has been struck by lightning) as it shows childhood naivety despite the harsh environment in which they life that would force a child to grow up at an alarming rate. This could be, however, because of his reliance on his father to take control of a situation and to shield him from things that no child should see. And a kind heartedness that is preserved for the boy only, as the man is often referred to as being cold inside, having a heart made of stone.
This is an interesting episode as. Not only do they encounter another human being, the man also releases himself from his own past. By discarding his wife’s picture and his identification he loses who he was before. This conforms to the idea of losing his identity as it doesn’t matter anymore, as nothing matters any more. He now, like everyone else has no name or sense of self, he will forever journey on the road along with his nameless son.
Coming across this man is a key episode as it shows the little regard left for human life and the obscurity of morals. Being presented with a man in obvious need of assistance, the man who has been struck by lightning would be representative of the melting world of endless suffering that surrounds them ‘he was as burntlooking as the country’. Without this episode there would be no inclination of how society has progressed into nothingness.
Well done for spotting the fact the man discards his past life shortly after passing the man on the road. It is strange that he has carried such things for so long and it is equally important that he takes the time to leave them on the road and not carelessly discard them in a ditch or some such place.
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