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On The Road by Jack Kerouac
by Beau Gomez
The symbols that I found in On The Road were as followed: -JAZZ- Jazz music, in the story, serves as a common ground that Dean, Sal, and their friends are involved in. In the 1950s, jazz music and jazz clubs served as the first real signs of the counterculture movement. This is fitting that Paradise (who represents Kerouac) and his clan of beatniks are involved in such activities. -TERRY- Another symbol in the story was one of Sal Paradise's lovers, Terry, who was a Mexican drifter. While he was on the road on the west coast, he saw Terry from afar and was instantly attracted. He mustered up the courage to talk to her which he had not done at various points in the story and he became in love with this woman. This is symbolic of Paradise's growing confidence in just taking a chance and finally making a move. -THE ROAD- Obviously this is one of the most important symbols in the story. While on the road, Sal begins to find himself through others which he was unable to do cooped up in New York. The road, itself, represents independence and responsibility. At various points, Sal had to fend for himself and conserve his resources not only to survive but to be able to move on.
Kerouac's Writing Style/Recommendation: Jack Kerouac, a pioneer in the beat movement, really showed his literary prowess in this novel. After reading On The Road, I could really see why the critics say that it was a book that defined a generation. What I liked about Kerouac's writing style was that it focused primarily on emotions but still used descriptive language to paint a picture of the subject. You could feel your own emotions change while you read this book which I liked. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It is a really well written book with a good deeper meaning to it that anyone can really appreciate. I liked the nostalgia involved. I really enjoyed reading Kerouac's classic. This was the first Kerouac book that I have read and after having read On The Road, I really want to read more of his works. This was a great book to read.
