"In the morning her cousins came to get us in another truck. I suddenly realized thousands of Mexicans all over the countryside knew about Terry and me and that it must have been a juicy, romantic topic for them. The cousins were very polite and in fact charming. I stood on the truck, smiling pleasantries, talking about where we were in the war and what the pitch was. There were five cousins in all, and every one of them was nice. They seemed to belong to the side of Terry's family that didn't fuss off like her brother. But I loved that wild Rickey. He swore he was coming to New York to join me. I pictured him in New York, putting off everything manana. He was drunk in a field someplace that day." --pg 99, Chapter 13
This quote neatly ties in the many aspects of the road that Kerouac has learned thus far on his journey. Firstly, Kerouac illustrates his appreciation for the big picture in his realization that "thousands of Mexicans all over the countryside" knew about his relationship with Terry. Kerouac himself is a deep thinker, but the open road has allowed for him to further reflect on both himself and those around him. Throughout his journey thus far, Kerouac also has seemed to give the people he meets the benefit of the doubt, as he did with the oldtimer Nebraska farmer from Chapter 3. In this selection, Kerouac says that all of Terry's cousins are nice. And even though he says that Rickey fusses, he still says "I loved that wild Rickey." Like numerous encounters, though, Rickey, too, promises to join Kerouac at a later destination. Kerouac seems to believe Rickey as he did with previous promisers of the past, but as readers, we can assume the worst. After all, Rickey "was drunk in a field someplace that day." It seems that Rickey will never join Kerouac in New York, but as readers, we'll have to continue reading to see if this pattern holds true.
Is this act of giving relative strangers the benefit of the doubt a good motto to live by? We already know Dean will let Kerouac down--Do you think Kerouac will get hosed by others before this book ends?
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I just want to add on your comment Chris. The quote for me was "They thought I was a Mexican, of course; and in a way I am." (Kerouac, 98).
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point on reflection and soul-searching (if you will), but to me I feel Kerouac's defining a "road trip" as an impulsive,unpredictable, and uncontrollable experience where you end up evolving into something different. A traveler keeps morphing and molding until he or she figures out what it is they're looking for.
Hedonism is merely a component in figuring out who you are. Go ahead and indulge. Try something out and if you don't like then its not for you, but you don't know unless you try. I feel that's what Part 1 is all about. Trying.
Your first attempts will not always work out like Sal "going up and down" instead of heading "west" in the beginning of the novel, but Sal dusted himself off and kept going. As crazy as it is, Sal has some kind of goal and he makes sure he gets there. He draws inspiration from others and Nature to stay motivated, yet he is passionate about discovering who he is.
As a college student, we're faced with issues that relate to Sal's. Are you content with where you are on your "road trip"? If not, then ask yourself where do you think you need to be? How are you going to get there? I know nobody can do this for you. So, might as well live life and start your true journey.