TWO THUMBS UP

After I finished On The Road I can strongly recommend it. It is a very interesting book about travel with a lot of fun events and experiences along the way. This book would be good for any teenager because there is drug use, alcohol use, sex, and downright trouble. Who doesn’t want to read about that?

I Was Wrong! (Prompt 3 Part IV Chapter 1)

Before I predicted that Dean would be getting Sal into even more trouble but at this point in the book I was wrong. Yes, Dean and Sal have been getting into trouble but in chapter 1 of part IV we see a new side of Dean. We have seen Dean get high, drunk, and run amuck but it has seems he has bucked down a bit. Dean has started working more and more in the parking lot. He is also supporting both of his ladies, Inez and Camille. Dean has also gotten much quieter. Yes they still go to parties but Dean has definitely changed a bit. Dean has grown into a more mature person compared to the eccentric party animal he was before.

Strange Observations (Prompt 4, Part III Chapter 1)

Kerouac's method of writing has been consistent throughout the novel. He has done a lot of characterization and dialogue. It was strange to me when he speak with more symbolism. I had not been noticing him discuss race much in the novel until recent chapters. This chapter particularly starts off with the topic out in the open. Sal is living alone and unhappy in Denver. As he walks the streets, he envies the Mexicans, Japanese, and blacks. He wants their lives, which he considers to be happier and more simple. He believes their lives are filled with joy and music. He criticizes himself for having white ambitions. He would rather be anything than white. This was very surprising for me to read. Especially because this book was written in the mid twentieth century, I would have expected Sal to do the opposite of aspiring to become these races. Racism still ran rampant and most people were voting for segregation. Some were still making claims that whites were better than blacks. Why this intelligent, white man would want to be anything otherwise completely took me by surprise. He has potential to become whoever he wants to be, yet he is focusing on others who conceivably have no more than him.

HUH? (Prompt 2 Part II Chapter 4)

Now what the heck is going on? Some weird things happen in Part 2 Chapter 4 that confuse the heck out of me. As a complete shocker to Sal, Dean asks Sal to make love to Marylou. Not only does he want Sal to make love to her but he wants to watch as it happens. Now why, under any circumstances, would a man want his girl to make love to another man? In this case not only make love but witness the whole thing! For me this solidifies Dean’s absolute craziness. It makes zero sense to me. Sal agrees and makes the argument that Dean wants to know what Marylou would be like with another man but that still does not convince me that it is a good idea.

Who he is? (Prompt 16, Part II Chapter 1)

Many times in class we have discussed who Che Guevara really is. Throughout "The Motorcycle Diaries" and in the film we watched in class, there are several different Che's. There is the youthful, optimistic young adult who travels throughout South America is hope of helping out everyone. There is also the older, tough, and slightly crazed Che who believes that by making speeches accusing America that he will bring happiness to everyone. He watched death after death when Castro first came into power and did not flinch. It was hard to figure out who he really was. While reading "On the Road", it is very easy to see a similar struggle with Sal. In his past, he was depressed and coming off of a divorce. Then he tries to explore America and make it out West where things appear to have the characteristics of a "Promiseland." Soon after, he is back at school trying to swoon a woman named Lucille into marrying him. Once Dean arrives back in his life, however, he is back on the road again. He is constantly flip-flopping his ideals and what kind of life he is choosing to lead. He should have sat down with Che and they should have discussed who they really truly were.

Jack's Swagger/Style (Prompt 11, Chapter 7)

At this point in the novel I have begun to notice a pattern in Jack’s writing. Jack’s writing style is in the form of long, and sometimes rambling, paragraphs. These paragraphs can often last a page or more. The main character is always moving from place to place and never stopping. Once he reaches one place he promptly gets up and moves on to the next place. I think this nonstop movement is reflected in Jack’s writing. The sentences go on and on in long paragraphs without a break. This is like Sal going and going without stopping. After researching the author I came across some interesting information that my shine light on why Jack wrote in this rambling style. Jack wrote the novel on one long piece of paper.

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/ontheroad/

The article explains how Jack started and finished the novel in three weeks. He typed his work on a 120 foot continuous scroll. This can explain the rambling style in On The Road. Above is the picture of the actual scroll.

This won't be the Last (Prompt 6 Chapter 6)

As the novel continues, it is easy to see that Dean antics are only going to get worse. He is constantly bouncing off the walls and getting himself into trouble. Sal learns in this chapter that while Dean is still seeing Marylou, he has also met a new girl named Camille. Like it would be expected, Dean is getting the most that he can out of life and sleeping with the two of them. He pulls it off with relative ease of course. He is always trying to get the most out of life. After finishing this chapter, I have the simple prediction that Dean is going to continue to get even more crazy. He is going to get into an even fast lifestyle and bring Sal with him. I think that Sal likes him for his outrageous stints partially because he wishes that he could carry them off himself. I believe this is only the beginning of the trouble that Dean is going to get himself and Sal into.

On The Road, Jack. (Prompt 18, Chapter 5)

At this point it is fairly obvious why the book is titled On The Road. The main character is on the road for the majority of the book so far. He is constantly moving from place to place. What makes this book interesting are the people he meets on the road. One of the most interesting experiences in the chapter is when Sal gets a ride from two farmers. The farmers drive a truck and pick up everyone who wants a ride. Everyone plies in the back and has a grand old time. On the truck he meets many characters like Mountain Slim and Mississippi Gene. After trying to pick up some girls and drinking a lot, Sal hitches his final ride and makes it to his destination, Denver. The experiences he has on the road makes this book what it is.

Euro Trip! (Prompt 10, Chapters 4)

In chapter three, Sal has begun his travels out west. He sees the Mississippi river in Iowa which is something he was been dying to see his whole life. Throughout the next few chapters Sal is traveling further and further out west. He does this with minimal supplies and plans. In fact, most of his meals consist of sweets and desserts, yum. Sal hitches rides with truck drivers as they enter gas stations. While he is hitching he meets many interesting characters including Eddie. Eddie is also from New York and they decided to hitchhike together.
The events in this chapter make me think of my plans for next summer. July, 2010, I plan on taking a trip to Europe. Me and a few of my very close friends plan on backpacking through Europe for two to three weeks. I wish to travel just as Sal travels out to the west. I want to go with little plans but to see as much of Europe as possible. I want to be moved by things I see in Europe the way Sal was moved by the Mississippi river. As of now my only plans are to buy a Eurrail pass (unlimited train rides across Europe) and make my way from country to country. The bonding and growing experiences of this traveling will be priceless. My desire to travel to Europe is comparable Sal’s desire to travel out west.

Crossroads (Prompt 14, Chapter 3)

Throughout the book Sal is learning about himself. His experiences and the people he meets help him find who he is. In chapter 3 Sal wakes up not knowing where he is. He is completely disoriented and does not even know who he is for a moment. As he comes back to his senses he says that he is, “at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future” (Page 45). This is a defining moment for the main character. Before the trip the author was in a stagnant part of his life. He was tired and even depressed while living in New York. This trip has provided him with a change from the ordinary and a shake up in the normal routine. At this crossroads in his life he looks behind him and sees the old him and looks forward in a much more optimistic view. He sees this adventure as a learning and growing experience. This is how I view my upcoming trip to Europe. I do not think that my life prior to the trip has been boring but I see it as a chance to find out who I am and grow as a person.

And so it begins.....(Prompt 1, Chapter 1)

The first chapter starts the book off on a good foot. I like the first person style of the author. It shows the voice of the “intellectual” narrator, Sal Paradise. Sal is a depressed writer living in New York in the late forties. He hangs out with a eclectic group of friends who I am excited to hear more about. I also like the character Dean Moriarty. So far he is described as a wild womanizer. He is married to Marylou who, to me, sounds like a ditsy blonde. I can't imagine that they will last. From the description of Dean you know he will be a trouble maker. He was just released from jail and hails from Colorado. This is his first time in New York City. Keroauc uses great detail when he describes his characters. I feel like they are standing right in front of me.

On The Road

On The Road by Jack Kerouac is a story of two men traveling together. You can expect new posts approximately every 2 chapters I read (slightly more frequently).

Welcome Class!

Welcome everyone,

Today for your do now I want you to wikipedia Peru and find a random fact.

Post this random fact to your blog and, if it has any relevance to TMD, explain how it connects to the book.

Che Who?

Che Guevara was bent on making the world a communist hell. As a young man he traveled the world and through the trickery of the common man he was turned into a socialist. He used his communication skills to gain support and start revolutions in the name of Communism. He wanted to stand up for the common man. He wanted to lead a revolt against Capitalization. After his successful revolution in Cuba he amounted to nothing but a capitalist symbol through t-shirts.

Chile

A vertical sliver of South America.

Political Commentary

Towards the end of the section Che comments on the political scene. He finds it confusing, "The political scene is confusing" (p88). The different candidates interest him. He speaks about the communist party and hatred for the United States. He talks about how, "chile should... shake its uncomfortable Yankee friend from its back." (p 89) This foreshadows Che's later interest and involvement in politics.