EXPLORING POST-APOCALYPTIC HUMAN IDENTITY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL HUMANS AND TRADITIONAL HUMANITY IN CORMAC MCCARTHY'S THE ROAD

Abstract

This interdisciplinary study undertakes a comparative analysis of human identity in Cormac McCarthy's The Road, juxtaposing traditional humanity with the emerging concept of digital humans. Through a post humanist lens, this research examines how the novel's portrayal of human resilience, morality, and relationships in a world informs our understanding of identity in the face of technological advancements. The investigation is guided by three primary research objectives. It aims to analyze traditional human identities, as represented in The Road. It also aims to cover the possibilities of digital humans’ challenge or reaffirm traditional notions of human identity, particularly in relation to embodiment, agency, and community.This study offers a nuanced exploration of the tensions and synergies between traditional and digital human identities. The research employs a qualitative methodology, combining close reading and thematic analysis of The Road with theoretical frameworks from posthumanism and digital humanities. This study contributes to the burgeoning discourse on digital humanity, shedding light on the evolving nature of humanity in the digital age. The findings provide valuable insights for scholars, theorists, and practitioners working at the intersection of technology, philosophy, and human identity. Ultimately, this research invites a critical reevaluation of what it means to be human in a world where technological advancements increasingly blur the lines between human and machine.