With the son's fear amid the possibility of death nearby, McCarthy also focuses deeply on the father's frustration. “If only my heart were made of stone,” are the words McCarthy uses to illustrate the emotional concerns of the characters. (McCarthy p. 11). Overall, the journey of isolation affected the boy as well as the man, both externally and internally. The boys' road trip left him weak and without any chance of hope. McCarthy says: “It’s a long shot. But the boy knew what he knew. It’s never a moment at all” (McCarthy p. 28). The years of travel had had the best of both, where they no longer had many expectations.