Sunday

I've already finished the term paper book and was rather disappointed by it. I didn't enjoy the book at all considering it was very dull and repetitive and upon reading it, I continuously sought out for a climax or a turning point. In the end, nothing special happened except for a measly trip to Mexico and the understanding that Neal and Jack would be connected by a brotherly love forever. 

This book was incredibly hard to get through because of how redundant the plot was due to them always being "on the road" or "roaring off". Neal was constantly pissing me off but also intriguing me. I was fascinated by the fact that someone could be happy and not have a care or responsibility in the world. "He no longer cared about anything (as before) but now he also cared about everything in principle, and that is to say, it was all the same to him and he belonged to the world and there was nothing he could do about it." I understand the idea of fate and someone believing that everything happens for a reason but that doesn't mean one should just sit on their ass and expect the world to take them to higher places. That's childish thought. 

However, Neal is the person everyone wishes they could be but won't become because it never ends well and you must really posses madness in order to be that ignorant and blissful. That's why Jack loves to be with Neal because he is someone who he wants to be but can never become because he has society and responsibilities holding him back. But, it all comes with a cost, and for anyone who completely ignores responsibilities, their life never turns out well. "I looked at him. He was wearing a T-shirt, torn pants hanging down his belly, tattered shoes; he had not shaved, his hair was wild and bushy, his eyes bloodshot, and that tremendous bandaged thumb stood supported in midair at heart-level (he had to hold it up that way) and on his face was the goofiest grin I ever saw." To anyone else, Neals situation looks bad. He's borderline a homeless junky; but of course, being the insane madman that he is, Neal is still happy with his life. This begs the question, is it better to be happy and be in any situation (including Neal's) or have money and be well supported but not as enthusiastic about life?