"...and me swearing for all the time and the money I'd wasted, and telling myself, I wanted to go west and here I've been all day and into the night going up and down, north and south, like something that can't get started. And I swore I'd be in Chicago tomorrow, and made sure of that...and didn't give a damn, just as long as I'd be in Chicago tomorrow."--pg. 11
For those of us who've experienced a road trip knows that it is highly possible to get lost along the way. Even if we've meticulously planned our journey somehow we still stray away from the path. Whatever the reason may be, misread the directions or mistakably held the map upside down, Kerouac returned to where he came from in order to restart his journey.
Being on the road is difficult. Being lost is even more frustrating. This journey comes with a price. You lose and personally I hate losing. Yes there are beautiful moments, but these moments stem from consequences. We can prepare all we want to, but understand once we're on the unrelenting road anything can happen (not to mention once we arrive to our destination things aren't what we expected them to be). Nonetheless, I feel Kerouac needed to return to his origin, gathered his bearings, and felt this journey is still worth trying again.
So is this road trip even worth it? If so, why?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This particular moment stood out to me as well due to the fact that I have had similar moments in my life. Trying to get something to work can take a large amount of effort and when it doesn't work right away things can get hectic. When problems are encountered one can either give up and forget about it or they can keep trying.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Kerouac faced his fare share of problems, he was still determined to make this trip work out for him.
By encountering and overcoming certain experiences on the road, does a road trip become more memorable/meaningful?
This paragraph stood out to me because it is a stark contrast to the previous excitement and optimism Kerouac displays in regards to the idea of a “road trip.” It’s at this point I feel Kerouac points out that all journeys are two-sided, where they are hard and at times & very trying, but the overall experience aids in the human experience.
ReplyDeleteAs Jose says, Kerouac faced his share of problems, but still was determined to make his efforts and his journey benefit him. In this fact, we can see his argument that once they are complete, overall, they will benefit those involved.
Question:
What traits would make a generation, such as the beat movement; attach themselves to ideas like this? Are they stronger or weaker in today’s society?