On the Road and The Great Gatsby

        The way On the Road is written reminds me of The Great Gatsby. Much like Nick Carraway, Sal is an observer and a writer. Dean Moriarty, like Gatsby, is a charismatic, difficult to understand character who drives the novel. Dean's role is similar to Gatsby's; both characters charm and control the narrators for no apparent reason.
        What I find interesting about this novel is how well developed and different each character is. The strange relationship between Carlo Marx and Dean Moriarty is captivating and intriguing. Just what is the purpose of their strange talks in the middle of the night? They seem to be trying to explain their motives for every situation. Perhaps they are attempting to gain absolute closeness by understanding each other.
        Another question is why everyone in the novel seems to either worship or hate Dean. Carlo keeps journals in which he catalogues Dean's every move; Sal follows him everywhere he goes. Perhaps it is Dean's zest for life and his ability to make so much of every day. The tight regulation of his schedule allows him to divide his time between three different girls, Carlo Marx, and Sal. Dean seems to know the secret to everything. He steals cars in the night and knows how to influence people. He is the "Ferris Bueller" that never seems to get caught. The characters in the novel seem to either hate him for his abilities or love him to the point where they want to be him.