Father
The father played a main character in this novel. He is the only parental figure for the boy, and both have no other family than themselves. The father can be described as sacrificing, as he gives up his food and life for the child. He also can be seen as someone who did not trust anyone because he feared too much for the safety of the child. The father remained this way throughout the novel, making him a static round character. For instance, when waking down the road the father says in his thoughts, "That the boy as all that stood between him and death," (McCarthy 29). The father's main goal was to keep the child alive in hope for humanity to be restored, which is indicated through how he says that how the child was "all that stood between him and death." In addition, the father experiences internal conflicts during these situations because he knows that he must protect the child, but doesn't want to take someone else's life in the process. The father also has to endure through many external conflicts with strangers with much worse intentions, causing fights and life-or-death situations. However, the father's attempt to keep the child alive succeeds as the child finds "good people" to live on with. Overall, the father is a key role to the development of the novel through his importance to the child and the conflicts that occur.
Child
The child was one of the main characters of the novel. Due to the child's young age and lack of motherly figure, the only relationship that he shares is with his father. The child had always been the hopeful side that was always willing to help other humans that they came across, unlike his father. The child was the reason for the father's need for the survival, so the plot was heavily dependent on the child and the outcomes of his journey. Knowing this, the child can be seen as a dynamic and round character because as he grows up a little, he begins to understand more about life and become more and more forgiving and open-minded towards other survivors. For example, when the boy says that he saw another little boy, he says that, "'We should go get him, Papa. We could get him and take him with us,'" (McCarthy 86). As seen, the child begins to become more selfless and trusting towards strangers. This mentality works out in the end because the child finds a family that can be seen as "good guys" as well. In addition, the interactions cause the child to have external conflicts with other survivors similarly to the way the father does, except the child was in greater danger because he is so small. The child also experiences internal conflicts because the novel often hints at suicidal thoughts from the child when he says that he wants to be with his mother. Overall, the child demonstrates the new humanity and contributed to portraying how hope in humanity is needed to survive.