Death and destruction are the epitome of a doomed world. Everything is destroyed and the murderers march through the streets at night. Hell on earth is a kind description. Cormac McCarthy's speculation about the end of the world, however, ensures that evil is not victorious. The biblical allusions addressed by Cormac McCarthy in The Road illuminate a sense of hope in a bleak and empty world. Despite a bleak first impression, the repetitive image of ash represents hope according to the symbolism found in the Bible. The ash becomes a natural environment, described throughout the book, with a seemingly melancholy atmosphere. McCarthy introduces the ash in the first pages: “Everything fades into darkness. The soft ash blowing in loose swirls across the asphalt” (McCarthy 4). Normally, the connotations of ash create a dark and gloomy atmosphere. McCarthy's intentional diction in this passage, however, creates an opposite mood. The phrases “soft ash” and “loose swirls” create a relaxed image, allowing the ash to be interpreted in a hopeful way. This hope is strengthened by the symbolism of ashes in the Bible. After Adam and Eve committed the first sin, God warns them of his power: “For dust you are, and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19). First of all, this verse exemplifies the great power of God. He created the complex human body from mere dust. In relation to The Road, ash represents the presence of great power. This brings hope to the father and son, knowing that the ability to create something from ashes exists. Likewise, the concept of fire present throughout the novel, although it serves as a representation of destruction, sheds light on the underlying theme of hope. . We are led to believe, through various descriptions, that the world w…… middle of paper……” describes the world as a puzzle to be solved. The answer is not easily decipherable, but rather is a learning experience. Second, the “thing that could not be restored” is the customs of the old world. The images of the old world and their meanings fade away, as the world itself fades away (Schaub). These things cannot be “put back into place.” The meaning of the world has not disappeared. It just changed (Kunsa). The world is left with a “hum of mystery,” a place full of possibility and potential. This last paragraph brings hope for the future and promises a better world. Through many biblical allusions, the father and son experience the effects of hope. Despite the destroyed world, they band together to survive the post-apocalyptic world. The "good" people bring hope for the future and for the defeat of evil. Promises and prospects will guide the new and hopeful world.