Alternate Interpretations of Literature

The purpose of this thread is to discuss our own theories and interpretations about books that we have read, such as the themes and hidden meanings behind the stories. As always, I'll start off with one of my own interpretations for The Road by Cormack McCarthy.

In the novel, it is never specifically stated WHAT exactly destroyed the world. A lot of people seem to think that all the references to the burned and ash-covered landscape imply that there was previously a nuclear war. I, too, believe this is what destroyed the earth, but I have on interpretation I would like to add to this theory.

In this post-apocalyptic landscape, most of the few remaining survivors have lost their humanity and have literally turned to cannibalism, and spend their days hunting the landscape looking for others to eat. But when did mankind lose its humanity-- was it after the war, or before? Well, it seems that the nuclear annihilation of almost the entire planet would require mankind to lose its humanity, beforehand. The loss of our humanity is a key theme in many of McCarthy's books, and I think The Road-- which is considered to be his best work-- not only provides a glimpse at the human condition, but is also McCarthy's warning as to what will ultimately happen unless we can learn to live with each other.