Carrying the Fire

The central metaphor of hope and goodness that the man passes to the boy.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The First Mention

The Fire The Conversation After the man shoots the roadagent, he tells the boy they are still the good guys and they are carrying the fire. The boy asks what it is. The man says it's the thing that makes them good. The Promise The boy repeats the phrase: 'We're carrying the fire.' The man says yes. It becomes their mantra. The Meaning The fire is not literal; it is the moral code, the will to survive without becoming monsters. They will not eat people, they will not give up.

The Last Instruction

The Transfer The Final Words On his deathbed, the man tells the boy he must carry the fire. The boy says he doesn't know how. The man says it's inside him, always there. The Boy's Understanding The boy asks if it's real. The man says yes. The boy says he can see it. He promises to carry it. The Legacy The man dies, but the boy carries the fire. When he meets the new family, he asks if they are carrying the fire. They say yes. The fire is passed on.

The Fire in the New Family

The Continuation The Confirmation The good man says they are carrying the fire. The boy is relieved. He belongs with them. The Woman's Words The woman says the breath of God passes through all time. The fire is a form of grace. The Symbol The fire is not physical; it is the memory of the father, the will to be good, the hope for a better world. The boy will keep it alive.

after the killing of the roadagent

before the man's death

after the boy joins the family