The novel "On the Road" is a story of how Kerouac travelled across the great United States of America together with his friends. It is a great piece of work since the author was able to capture wonderful scenes and marvelous pieces of artwork. The main character is seen amidst a backdrop of poetry, drugs and drug abuse plus great musical jazz. 1957 was the year that the novel was published, and Kerouac is the narrator who tells the whole story in the novel (Kerouac 1). Kerouac came up with the idea of telling his travels story in the 1940’s (Kerouac 1). He wrote the whole script in a series of the countless notebook after which he transferred the story to a reel of paper that had the continuously joined story. it was then published in the year 1957, and it was filmed in the year 2012. The paper intends to discuss the novel “On the Road” by Kerouac.
The main character of the novel is Kerouac, who is also the narrator of the story of the book. The main character is also the author of the book, and the events of the book are inspired by his adventures when he travelled through the great America with his friends. The friends in the book are Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise, who he had an adventure with when travelling across the United States of America. In the novel, there are five main parts that describe the events that took place on that road trip across the country (Kerouac 3). While reading the novel one will not fail to notice that it is wholesomely autobiographical as Sal narrates his epic journey across the country.
Part 1
It is the start of the journey across the great country; it mainly describes how Sal travelled to San Francisco the place where he met his friend Dean. He describes Dean as an individual who had a free spirit and made the adventure better since he longed to have the freedom of the road. Apart from Dean, he met other people especially when he arrived in Denver where he met Carlo Marx and their friends. He first arrived at Denver before booking a bus to San Francisco where he also met friends like Remi and Lee, who were a couple. Later he boarded a bus to Los Angeles where he the Mexican lady Terry, who he describes as cute. They strike a relationship, and they stayed together while he was travelling to Bakersfield the hometown of Terry (Kerouac 12). At Bakersfield, he was able to meet Terry's brother who they shared a lot with, and he even learned the meaning of "manana". After Bakersfield, he took a bus to New York where he was able to witness the Times Square and the Paterson.
Part 2
The part started when the narrator was celebrating charismas eve, and Dean comes in. he describes Dean as a bug in part two since he was busy with family and Dean Shows up for more adventure. He describes him like a bug because he shattered his Christmas plans which were just for family. Dean and Sal later engage in a series of adventures moving from one nightclub to another nightclub while listening to jazz and celebrating life. After a series of event, Sal departs back to New York by a bus.
Part 3
The part took place during spring of the year 1949 as Sal boarded a bus to Denver from the City of New York. He feels lonely on this entire journey as not even one of the friend’s he made are around at this time. On reaching home he heard that Dean was hurt so he went to see him, he also went to see Camille, who was pregnant at that time. Marylou also proved to be unfaithful in this scene since he was sleeping with other men and the scenario led to Dean hurting his thumb. Sal had bigger plans in this part since he invited Dean to join him in his journey to Italy which was a country in Europe. On the chapter, Galatea made Sal realize that he was selfish with his endeavors when she bluntly told him that he had no regards for others but himself. The two friends argued about their age and later reconcile n[bough a car and destroyed the car through their reckless driving and finally went back to New York by bus.
Part 4
Sal still has the urge to travel while his friend Dean is working as an attendant in New York Manhattan Island. Dean has no desire for more pleasure thus he hit the road alone and met more new friends.
Part 5
Dean finally gets divorce papers and is ready to marry Inez, but he leaves Inez and reunites with Camille. Sal meets Laura after returning from New York Sal draft a plan to Dean, but there is no money for more adventure. The story mainly focuses on the travels that Sal made and the relationships he created and their outcome.
Work Cited
Kerouac, Jack. On the road: the original scroll. Ed. Howard Cunnell. Penguin Books, 2007.
Kerouac, Jack. On the road. Time Apt. Group, 2014.
Nicosia, Gerald. Memory Babe: A Critical Biography of Jack Kerouac. Grove Pr, 1983.
