Thursday, January 14, 2010
I think that even though they are all running from something, it seems that they do have a constant in their lives. Dean, if not the rest of Sal's friends, seem to reappear no matter where they wander. Another thing is that they all seem to stick to the same cities, revisiting the same places over and over again, almost as if they think that they're going to find something different every time they revisit. It's also interesting that they seem to have apartments or housing in a lot of major cities, such as NYC and Denver. They don't seem to venture into small towns, rather staying in or near mostly large and well known cities, such as LA, San Francisco, New York City, etc. In ch. 4, Sal mentions that Ed had the same thought about life as Dean, and that makes me wonder if that all of Sal and Dean's friends are really all trying to be Dean, just like Sal, but in different ways.
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I agree, I do think that most of the characters are running; yet, I do not necessarily believe that they are all running "away". Sal seems to be running toward happiness, but i believe he is looking in all the wrong places. As Reine said, they keep visiting the same cities and towns every time, almost like a cycle... they go on the road looking for whatever they believe will make them happy, or make them free from whatever they were running from. Yet, when they don't find what they're looking for, they go home; this cycle appears constant throughout the book. None of the characters can ever find their peace if they keep revisiting the same places over and over. Also, I think Sal needs to take the way he may effect women into consideration, I know this chapter isn't specifically one where he was a selfish womanizer, but just the idea that he left on this journey with the intention of having an affair with Marylou is extremely egoistic and deceitful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maya, that Sal is looking in the wrong places for happiness. He just keeps going around and around, in circles finding nothing that he truly wants. He tries to mold into other people, like Dean trying to be as happy or have as much fun as him, which doesn't work. In the beginning of chapter four Sal doesn't seem to like Ed because he copied Dean's line. It seems to me that Sal is annoyed with Ed when he tells him "he had no direction," (123)and that he was almost angry that Ed was trying to be like Dean too. It was not surprising that Sal said, he was happy to be moving. He said he "realized [he was] leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing [his] one and noble function of the time, move" (134). Sal knows that his moving will give him another opportunity to find himself and whatever he is looking for. Because the word "move" is italicized in the text it gives an emphasis physically on the word, showing the reader how important that word is to Sal, and how it may just be the key to his success and happiness.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in Sal's story, I am beginning to question his motive for constantly going back on the road. At first, I thought it was for the element of adventure. Now, as Maya said, it has become a cycle. It is no longer new and exciting, but rather repetitive. However, Sal still seems to appreciate "[t]he purity of the road" (135). The road now seems to carry the idea of comfort. Unfortunately, the road has rules (as reminded to us by the policemen in Virginia) and the road must eventually end.
ReplyDeleteChapter six illustrates a transition between the excitement of adventure and the first signs of being lost. Jane Lee introduces the idea of paradise which embodies its own significance in the story's change of tone. "Same old Paradise" appropriately describes both Sal's experiences on the road and in the different cities (142). By the end of this chapter, we finally see Sal alone alongside the river. I saw this as a sign of him starting to think for himself and question the lifestyle he had once found exciting.
I don't think its fair to say that Sal is looking for happiness in the wrong places. Sure he's had some of his most miserable experiences on the road, but he's also had his best times there. All Sal is really doing is getting away from the boring stability that used to rule his life when Dean wasn't there. I think both the guys, especially Dean, have realized that when they live out the archetypical American lifestyle, there's no fun, no adventure, and nothing worth remembering. And I could be completely wrong, but I think one of the reasons this book became the cultural icon it is is that Dean, and the beats in general, realized there was more to life than just working, raising your kids, and dying.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I don't know whether to take Dean seriously or not. He claims the blind piano player is "God," but I don't know if he's joking. He also claims to lose his virginity at age 9, but this again seems to be a bit farfetched. Sal realizes that Dean is quite mad throughout the reading as well. Dean continues his reckless behavior by stealing gas and speeding through Washington DC on inauguration day. I feel this is symbolic of the Beat culture zooming past civilization and just doing their own thing. That is all Dean seems to be doing...
ReplyDeleteI actually don't know what the matter with Sal is. He says he doesn't want to be close with Dean after he ditches Sal and Marylou for Camille, but he makes a pact with him to travel east to the city, and then go to Italy. I also find it unreal that Sal just got a 100 dollars from some random girl he knew, especially since money was always tight for them. Also I hate how Sal says he is miserable, but really he could be happy writing. He says he has money from his book, which he is going to use to go to Italy, but he is always asking for money on the road. I also thought it was completely unethical to take over a car that didn't belong to them. I just think they talk to much bullcrap, and waste their lives.
ReplyDelete