Cormac McCarthy's apocalyptic novel, The Road, establishes  the protagonist, the man's (unnamed) optimistic decision to encourage his son to continue with their lives, which ultimately helps to illuminate his son's life after the man demise.
The author describes how the man commits to live for his son. When the man was fighting a bad cough,he never gave up for his son with his belief that there would be better life ahead. The author uttered " He knew only that the child was his warrant( McCarthy, 4)". This convey that the boy is the only reason the man wants to live to show his son how the old world supposed to be. Furthermore, the man grows weaker, his cough worsening and becoming even bloodier than before. Thus, his son was afraid  his father was going to die. However, his father again encouraged him to live his life and not to commit the sin by taking his own life. The man said "You can't. You have to carry the fire (McCarthy, 278)" This ensures that the man wants his son to encounter every challenges, he may face, which empowers the boy to be self-reliant. Ultimately, The boy was welcomed into a new family by the man who asked the boy to go with him with his family. The author said "then he rose and turned and walked back out to the road." (McCarthy, 286), which conveys that the boy wants to live his life because his father wanted him to do so. The above evidences show that the father's positive thinking and concern about his son let the boy to make his life better by deciding to go with the other man.
From this lesson one can learn that life is very complicated and anything can happen. However, one should continue with his our her life and should face any challenges one may face, for the healthy life.