Wednesday, January 13, 2010
After reading chapter 14, I noticed Sal's extensive use of hyperbole in his narration. Earlier in the book, he describes three different people as having "the one greatest laugh in the world" (63). He says this of Remi, Remi's neighbor, and the farmer at the bar in Nebraska. In chapter 14, he says, "I was wearier than I'd been for years and years," (104), which is clearly an overstatement. I think Kerouac uses these overstatements to show Sal's tendency to exaggerate and to generalize. His generalizations and assumptions, for example when he assumed Terry was a hustler, can get him into trouble, but he does not realize this about himself.
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Now that I look back at it, most of the quotes I had underlined did express this idea of hyperbole and exaggeration which lead Sal to generalization. I think the use of hyperbole and generalizations are what lead him to make decisions in his life. He says, "Everybody goes home in October," (103). I think that if he feels that his decisions are somewhat accepted, whether it be by society and Dean, then they must be carried out. This generalization allows him to go home without any money or notable accomplishment. Later, he says "The only thing to do was go," (120). As if there were no other option in the world, Sal makes it seem that the trip to New Jersey or any trip at all is essential. This whole idea hadn't even occurred to him till Dean shows up. Sal's obsession with society and avoiding opposition is what prompts most of his actions. We can relate this back to the time he was a cop and continuously asked his fellow cop to let the men go. He is confused and seemingly cannot decide what he really wants.
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