Extreme Circumstance

Jack claims that he would not have befriended Eddie under normal conditions.

He claims Eddie reminds him of his cousin. All alone on the road, with no really lasting friendships, he befriended the criminal scumbag Eddie. The astonishing part I find is that he believes Eddie would have bored him. Eddie seems to be a fairly exciting character, trying to flee with a car at one point.

The Habituation Blues

This is the same thing I've been saying describes Jack's behavior from the start, just in the words of someone who spends more time researching why.

9. We can become bored with just about anything, but there may be a way to reverse the habituation blues. Researchers reporting in theJournal of Consumer Research think the trick is overcoming “variety amnesia”—our tendency to forget that we’ve been exposed to a variety of great things, be they people, food, music, movies, home furnishings or other—and instead focus our attention on the singular thing that no longer gives us the tingles. To shake ourselves free from this negative trap, we must “dishabituate” by forcing ourselves to remember the variety of things we’ve experienced. So, for example, let’s say that you’ve become bored with a particular musical group you once couldn’t listen to enough. This research suggests that what you need to do it recall the variety of other songs from other musical groups that you’ve listened to since the last time you listened to your once-favorite band, and by doing so you’ll revive appreciation for your fave.

WHY?!

-I'm reacting/expanding my to post made earlier.

-- Why in the world does alcohol have to be the first thing we think of to do, in order to relieve stress?! Is that really only how far our brains can stretch, to just jump to conclusion that that's the only way? What about taking a run or a walk, taking a drive, listening to music, taking a nap (only if tired of course), talking on the phone with someone, jumping up and down (believe me it helps), dancing, drawing, painting, writing it all down, going to work out. There are NUMEROUS ways to cope with bad situations, fear, and things we don't want to have to face. Alcohol isn't dealing with a problem, it's running away from it, it's a mask for what we don't want to see. The only way to actually get over a problem and move on from it looking it straight in the face and just accepting it, and figure out the mess.

Jobs

In the book, almost all the main Characters don't have a long term stable job, and all the jobs only requires physical strength and skills. I think it is because of their constantly traveling, is this sort tells us if u want a good job don't travel too much?

Are you brave enough?

Jack hit the road when he was mid 20, lot things happened, many of them are happy and many of them are sad. As i reading the book, i never felt he was regret too much on any thing, and always could stand up to keep on rolling.

here i want to say: Are you brave enough to not regret on anything in the long river of life.

The End of the Road

I knew it! It's all about Neal. The last few pages of the book prove it, although the words may be slightly altered because of the dog eating the original scroll..."I think of Neal Cassady, I think of Neal Cassady." It is clear that Jack felt some indubitable devotion and connection to Neal and now that bond is forever preserved through On the Road. 

Metaphorically Speaking

At the beginning Jack goes north to Bear Mountain. He gets there and gets very upset. He starts yelling and crying about how he hadn't even started his journey.

Given Jack was probably in his mid twenties at the time, this mirrors the thoughts of many people of our age and maybe a little older. The idea that we have not yet begun, that this is not yet our journey is widespread against people in their late teens, and proves to be nothing more than a misconception as what we do now will affect what we perceive to be "real."

Metaphorically Speaking

At the beginning Jack goes north to Bear Mountain. He gets there and gets very upset. He starts yelling and crying about how he hadn't even started his journey.

Given Jack was probably in his mid twenties at the time, this mirrors the thoughts of many people of our age and maybe a little older. The idea that we have not yet begun, that this is not yet our journey is widespread against people in their late teens, despite the fact that what we do now affects us as much as anything we would do twenty years from now.

“The script looks like a Road!”

“Neal, I finished writing about us. On the road”

This was written in the introduction part of the novel. Jack seemed very excited about finishing the script. He described the script as a road and writing it felt like he was on the road again. I always thought this story was Jack’s, but now I feel like this book was like a friendship book for Jack and Neal. It’s a story about freedom that Jack and Neal had. Jack writes “ Which I keep thinking about; about two guys hitch hiking to California in search of something they don’t find, and losing themselves on the road, and coming all the way back hopeful of something else”. I feel like to be on the road was to go on a self searching journey. They were separate people and were on a separate journey but was on the same journey. I think the journey made them grow just a little more, and made their friendship just a little more deeper.

The conversation on Women

Neal and Jack had a conversation on women at one point in the novel. They always had conversations on women but this night, Neal was more serious and was more enlightened (?) He had this expression as if he understood the world or something. Jack described what Neal was talking about as not understandable but understandable and is very pure. Neal was crying out about how women can never understand what men are thinking. He wished Louanne would believe his eternal love towards her. Jack tells him, Men doesn’t understand women too. Neal responds to this, that the relationship is not that simple. I think it is. Men can never understand women and women can never understand men. Female and male think in a different way, and I personally think it is hard to make female and male understand each other.

ps. I dislike how Neal said Louanne should understand and believe in the eternal love he gives her, when he is always flirting with other ladies.

crazy diamond

I was just listening to shine on you crazy diamond by Pink Floyd and the second the lyrics began Neal popped into my head.

 

"Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions, 
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!"

The song is actually meant to be a tribute to Syd Barrett, however I think "crazy diamond" is just as appropriate a name for Neal Cassady.

Understanding where you are...

“ Undertand the country, and you will be fine. You will survive.”

My dad taught me when I was a child. I never understood it. As I grew up, his words faded away.

In page 222, Neal and Jack has a serious conversation on how one can be fine traveling anywhere in the country if one knows one part of the country well enough and the native language of that country. That is because every inch of the country are the same and the people are the same. This reminded me of what my dad taught me. I wonder what it means to be able to understand the country and to be able to speak in the language spoken in that country.

I personally think this is something someone can understand once they go on a long Journey, after experiencing being far away from their home, or someone that has been on the road once.

Age

I'm surprised that the age of the book's characters has not been brought up more often. I think it's absolutely essential to notice that Jack and his friends are acting only slightly older than teenagers, when really they are in their thirties. Even today such people would be looked upon as irresponsible. It is similar to the idea of the lost boys, the boys who never grow up. That is what makes Jack's adventures so intriguing, that they are painted in this Neverland that only exists for them. 

The meaning....

What does it mean to be on the road?

To be on the road means to be free from everything.

It doesn’t mean Jack became free, because he was on the road or just a while he was on the road. To be on the road at least once in a life, opens up the door to freedom. To be “On The Road” is an idea of freedom. The way one thinks after being on the road is freedom. Like Jack, his thoughts are free, more then he himself is physically free.

Emotionless

In the novel On The Road, Jack interacts with a lot of people while he is on the road. He likes and has fun interacting with others, but there is something strange about him. Jack never stays with one person (friends/ girl friends). Most of the time, he leaves when the relationship with that person becomes a little awkward/ uncomfortable. Jack is a man that seems excited and interested in anything, but he actually doesn’t really care about anyone he interacts with. This makes me think that he interacts with others just to have a story to talk about, and there are no meanings in the relationship he sort of builds up while he is on the road.

The Difference

Jack is a man. A human just like any other. But there is a special fact that makes him different from us. He has “Freedom”. Or at least he is very close to Freedom compared to people that goes to school six days a week, and being restricted by time/ schedule. Jack is free because he is not restricted by time. Being on the road makes that possible. Then does Jack have fun with his freedom? Of course he does. Jack is always happy to be on the road and is always excited to be on the road again. He probably likes the feeling of being free from relationships with others, being restricted by time and being able to move under no pressure.

lesson

When On the Road was published people saw it to be a brave piece of literature that revealed the wicked ways of the degenerates that took to the road. The coverage of drug and alcohol abuse in Kerouac's writing gave the book an authentic yet deplorable nature. It seems that the pure philosophy that is presented in On the Road is often overshadowed by the scandalous accounts. Kerouac clearly understands that there is something to be learned from the life he chose and by reading On the Road one can find what that is.

Whiskey and Wine

-Why in the world does it seem to come up with almost every single person, including Jack, in the book, that the solution to their stress or uncertainty comes to be whiskey or wine (or many other alcoholic beverages)? Is there any other way to solve or moan over a problem? I know it's all part of the 'great' adventure, but really...

-Not saying it's happening all the time, but it's getting there.

Goals

What do you think Jack's goals are for this part of his life, other than his writing? What is it that he truly wants, and what is he looking for? He displays interest in so many things, but it all seems pretty short-lived. How does this translate into Jack's true feelings?

Old Age

What is going through Jack's mind in terms of his age? He was so upset when Neal called him old, but before that there was little mention of his age. Throughout the book, there is an obvious franticness, which can tie in with the feeling of running out of time through the aging process. Is Jack at the end of his youth and does he realize it?

views of women

Many of the adults I've talked to (particularly female) call On the Road "A boys book". Throughout the book, Jack and his friends perceive women as objects. Look at Neal, for example who has had several girlfriends/fiances/wives/ex-wives in the book, but none of them are of any value to him. If he truly respected any of them, he would care about his unfaithfulness.

These men clearly see women and either objects or mother figures which is still a completely unfortunate perception that is constantly present in our society then and now. These men never describe women as anything but "pretty" or "gone"( Whatever that means). There is never any mention of a woman's personality and in almost all of the relationships, the men rule. If, by some chance there is even an inkling of a woman having any power, all the men think she's a bad person and are afraid of her.

Women are totally subordinate in this book and this is almost surprising to me. Wasn't beat culture supposed to be open, with meshing of the black and white cultures and the acceptance of others? It seems that women were not involved in this equation.

"You've got brown in you ears."

Jack Kerouac-Cassady. That name sounds good. Their simple dialogue is so philosophical and it's not even to seem like intellectuals anymore. We've seen Jack and Neal grow in this book, their relationship flourish and thrive off of each other and it is utterly magnificent. The little things that they say to each other have meanings that no one but them could understand. I think we all need a friend like that. A true "Camerado."

: (

I'm in love with Jack Kerouac. I'm upset that the story is ending because it is like I am living in this world that is slowly fading away. Jack is starting to give details that portray such a fun life that's complicated and dysfunctional but absolutely fascinating. He took me on this journey that made me feel as if it was just him and I with a few other people but what struck me was that the journey was actually focused on Neal Cassady. I just don't want this story to end.

Drugs

Jack never really talks about his addiction, only other peoples. When he stays with Bill, (who if i might add, is off the wall crazy!) he talks alot about his addiction maybe it is because Bills addiction out weighs his own, maybe it was because Bills was just more interesting, or maybe it is kind like he is covering up his own spill by showing us a bigger spill if you know what I mean. I found it verry odd how Jack put the light on Bill. I almost feel like Jack was a narator to Bills life.

$Money

Money. A green little piece of paper that can somehow be spent so quickly that you wonder how it happened. Jack even says he wishes he could spend his money in a more logical and just plainly better way. Then why wouldn't he? Just don't buy whiskey for one day, or something. I understand the need of food of course, but besides that, if your wanted to hitchhike all the way to New York why would you even think about spending another penny?

A Greater Understanding

As a girl, and I hope I can speak for a lot of girls when I say we often think about what guys are thinking. And sometimes, why in the world would they say or think that?! On The Road is a very graphic book in all areas of Jack's journey. Often, that includes women. Well reading sentences that include sexual suggestions is fine by all means, but you wonder how Jack comes up with the things he thinks and writes about. Is it just the desire to have sex?(Duh) Or do they, meaning men/boys, think and say certain things because they can, and because, well lets be honest, women and what makes them women, is on their minds all the time?

The Fuuuuture

What do you think it would be like if Kerouac was still alive? Would we all be a lot cooler? I think he would fit in perfectly now that there is this whole hipster movement. Just something that was on my mind.

Two snaps and a drumroll

So, I was doing my history project on 'Common Teenage Stereotypes of the 1950's" and the beatniks really caught my attention. These kids rebelled by saying what they felt no matter how hard the truth was to hear and sat back and relaxed with tight clothing and cigarettes knowing that the world is not this perfect suburbia that most people wanted to make it out to be. I became so involved in this topic of the beat generation that I truly began to understand Jack Kerouac, why he wanted this trip in the first place, why his 120 foot scroll had such an impact, and why his style of writing reached out to so many people. He was the innovator of all the innovators of today and I think he gets a few snaps for that.

Finale

Final Questions

Is Neal actually mental insane?

WHy does Louane come with Neal?

Where they ever happy on the Road?

Did Jack find himself?

Bill

Bill seems to have such skill and talent. I finally understood after further reading why Jack was so enthralled by him. Bill can work with his hands extremely well. He built a sturdy fence which he was unable to complete. Bill the character at first repelled me, then I saw the beauty of his character. Here was a man who could have been so much more. If it were not for the drug Bill could have turned out to be an average Joe with hidden talents. Or maybe a teacher or philosopher. His mind is sharp and his attitude on life is so captivating. He is aware of what Jack and his buddies are dong and he senses their restlessness and he tries to make them see it too. I think Bill is a wonderfully crafted character.

Even though it may be thrilling to drop everything and go on a road trip, wouldn't it be terrifying as well? Think of all the strangers you would have be ok with. All the places you wouldnt know how to get around. Now would you still want this trip to happen? 

Does Jack miss his mother at all? He never talks about his family, and family is extremely important in anyones life. True, when he is home he lives with his mother, but when he is on the road, which is a huge some of his life in this book he never gets to see her. 

 Why Neal would want Jack to have sex with Louanne? 

What is a relationship?

Why does a relationship have to endure a certain amount of time and loyalty before it can be called one? Before the fact that Jack did not seem to make an emotional attachments to the people around him made me wonder. If one shares an experience with somebody else is that not enough. The need for emotions to be presented so clearly to using writing is a thing of habit. As a society we so are used to thinking and reading one way. One does not need to mention the way the feel about someone for the reader to be able to deduce the meaning. If one shares the experience and describes the person during that adventure in such vivid detail that should be enough. The connection is right in front us but it is not displayed out nicely for us. Never does Jack says how he feels about someone and he does not need to say because the way he talks about these experiences as a reader one can feel that he treasures them and the experience is nothing without the person.

Genre

Whenever analyzing this book I start to realize that I bring my emotions into the equation. This is interesting because I tend to be very mental in my thinking and I pride myself heavily on being able to dissect a piece of work on its own without bringing in my own viewpoint. This book makes you connect to it on such an emotional basis that I enjoy the challenge of having to think am I imposing my personal opinions into my dissection. I have never found as challenging to with hold judgment.

Can you hear the "Beat"

For history class we read short piece on, the Beat Generation. It got me thinking. The chapter was on the '50s and '60s. It was a time of great prosperity in America. The great depression had ended, there was no war, production rates were at an all time high, and just about everyone went to collage. Then out of this prosperity there was a group of anxiety poets and authors who bum around the country in search of what? What was their purpose? Why were they so non conformist? What do they want, and why r they called, the "Beat Generation?"

Dear Neal

Here we are, hello frisco

This is Marketstreet, darling

This is goodbye

And I watch you drive away

It's what you want and I have no say

Anything to get your kicks

Anyway to just come clean

There's no way to cage your heart in

There's no way to stop the machine

Darling, you know and I know that everything is straight between us

TALLY 3

Tally.

Hope everyone had a good Long Spring!!

Lisa

Jack's Lack of a Backround

Though this subject has been discussed many times, I am still kind of hung up about it. One thing I was thinking about is how maybe Jack's own self-image is not strong. Sometimes, it can be so difficult to see oneself, and I know that at times I will either get a compliment or someone will say something about my character that surprises me. Maybe Jack's vagueness is to demonstrate that he is unsure of who he is, and he has difficulty seeing himself. This trip is in a time of loss, so maybe he just feels that he has been left alone, and is unsure of who he is without his wife.

Jack's Fears

What is Jack truly afraid of? He seems to think that everything will work out always. For instance, when he doesn't have enough money, he just thinks he'll figure it out further down the line. Though it's not good to obsess over issues of this sort, there should be a certain type of fear brought to light in these situations. Fear rules many people's lives; it is their guide in decision-making. Has there been much portrayal of fear in this book, because I'm not picking up on it.