I began reading the novel “On The Road” by Jack Kerouac yesterday. I already noticed on the first few pages that it is a very personal story. The first person narrative is very well written, as it seems to address the reader directly and involves him or her in the plot. Although the author uses a fairly sophisticated language in narration, as if being wiser while reminiscing, his writing is still very understandable. The colloquial diction and plain descriptions make the plot especially accessible for the younger reader. The use of casual wording and clear rhetoric devices are also related to the novel's themes, since the largely autobiographical book addresses issues like drug experimentation, sexuality, the rejection of materialism and oneself’s liberal expression. In the first chapters it becomes obvious that the novel represents the Beat Generation and possibly the later 1960s psychedelic movement. The main character's voyage to the West seems to facilitate the character's current philosophy. The trip appears to be an expedition for Sal to “find himself,” explore freedom and express his rejection of social ideals or conformity. Being sloppy with money and substituting a job for drugs and women, Sal's fairly lazy and optimistic attitude towards all his activities underlines Beat culture. The main character tries to free himself from the social system, live in complete liberty and enjoy life as it is.
The author mainly characterizes through narrator descriptions and dialogue. Main characters like Dean Moriarty, are fantastically described in dialogue. Dean’s absurd and over-complicated dialogues are not only funny, but show is inauthenticity. Everybody knows Dean is a troublemaker. He has a very unnatural way of presenting himself to hide this wickedness, using elaborate diction, for instance. As he uses this language incorrectly, he is, hence, characterized as both uneducated and mysterious or untrustworthy. Later, as Dean is under the influence of especially drugs, his statements become even more incoherent and ridiculous.
No comments:
Post a Comment