Monday, September 7, 2009
An Escape from Reality
“Today we drink, tomorrow we work.” (p.91)
Part I of On The Road can pretty much be summed up with this relatively simple quote. The line is literally true to form as Sal drank a good amount of alcohol throughout his journey, putting off everything serious for later. His road trip across America was a vacation from life’s responsibilities. He desired to break free from his boring life and live on the edge. Accordingly, he rejected everything serious on his trip and became immersed in a hedonistic lifestyle. For a brief period of time Sal didn’t have to worry about tomorrow, and just enjoyed today. However, his trip had to come to an end eventually. As much as he enjoyed Dean and Carlo’s way of living he realized he could never become like them. Life isn’t all fun and games. “This was the end of something.” (p.101) Tomorrow, he would work.
At the end of Part I Sal decides to figure out the losses and gains from his journey on the road. What do you think he will conclude?
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I agree with Nadia In that it seem like this trip has been an escape for Sal from reality, but like all good things this “road trip” must come to an end. I to have had road trips where my only concern was when I was getting another beer and all I was focused on was the fun. Then that last day rolls around and this crash back to reality happens along with the famous line “Shit! I’ve got school tomorrow.” I believe that Sal’s realization that he cannot just live life free of worry and that he needs something more shows that he is somewhat normal.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me ask the question does a true road trip end when you come back to reality?
I also thought that this simple quote could sum up what "the road" trip was for part one. Sal started his journey across the country to find something that he seemed to be missing where he was. It was an escape from his reality, a break from the monotony of his life. This quote was basically stating how he dealt with much of his experiences along the journey. He was never really on a planned outline of what he should do or how he should get there. This trip was open to whatever he encountered, worrying not about his future and what that entailed but the present moment.
ReplyDeleteEven though this seemed to be how he lived out his road trip, did it cost Sal more in the end because he primarily dealt with things as they came?
These two chapters seem to take on the theme of the quote "today we drink, tomorrow we work". Sal just went with the flow during this period and tried out a couple different options for him and Terry to try and make some money, but none of his endeavors ended with much profit. Sal running out of money puts a temporary halt to his fun and games attitude and he also realizes that he needs to provide for not only himself, but Terry and her child as well. When he realizes that he is not making enough money in the cotton fields, he suggests to her that she goes back with her family.
ReplyDeleteWas money the real and/or only reason Sal suggested for Terry to leave?