On the Road Post

In this next section of the novel, On the Road, Dean and Sal have reunited, become friends again, and are back on the road again, to my dismay. I’d almost believed for a while that Sal could out grow Dean, and his childish way of life, and understand that he is a failure not a hero. Instead Sal again partakes in Dean immature antics, while they go in search for Dean father and lost childhood. I’ve noticed that most people do not find Dean as intriguing as Sal finds Dean. In fact, I would say the majority of people are frightened by Deans scatter brains and crazy ideologies. An example is when Dean and Sal hitchhike with three people. They are nervous about the way Sal and Dean ramble about their lives and childhood with uncontrollable verbosity.  They are actually quite relieved when Dean and Sal are dropped off and out of their lives forever. The people that they hitchhiked with are a normal couple, but Jack Kerouac makes this stable and normal relationship look between two people who are organized and calm, look boring. Once again Kerouac glories abusive and instable relationships and mocks normal ones. Perhaps he does this to show that these kinds of relationship are more passionate, but to me the people in these relationships are in serious need of counseling.

            Dean and Sal are again in a fight when they arrive in Denver. Dean says Sal seems “older”, which perhaps means more grown up and responsible. He is actually changing and even Dean is noticing. I’ve noticed that not only are the male –female romantic relationships are unstable but also male-male friendships. I think that you can consider the relationship between Sal and Dean as unequal. Dean takes the position as a “Alpha Male” and Sal is more easily influence by Dean. Almost worshiping him in some way. They are constantly arguing and they are almost never on the same page. I think Dean is incapable of keeping a strong relationship with anyone because of his father abandoning him. Perhaps once he finds his father he will come to a resolution and change.