People were still preparing for tomorrow. I didn't believe it. Tomorrow was not preparing for them. He didn't even know they were there.
The quote speaks to a sense of futility and despair in the face of an uncertain future. The speaker observes that despite the actions of people getting ready for what lies ahead, it feels as though tomorrow holds no promise or recognition of their efforts. There’s a stark realization that their preparations may be meaningless, as they are unnoticed by the world around them.
This reflection underlines a central theme in Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," where survival and hope clash with the harshness of reality. The characters' struggle highlights the existential questions about human resilience in a place devoid of certainty and security, suggesting that life continues in the face of overwhelming odds, despite whether anyone is aware of it or not.
