Ciara Keane's 2nd Reaction-Chapters 3-4

In chapters three and four, the narrator’s adventure on the road truly commences. The narrator makes his way to Denver by hitchhiking with anyone he can catch. A hundred miles, here, a hundred miles there.  With all of the different people he meets and all of the stories they have to tell, I can not see how Denver is going to be any more interesting than his adventure to get there, but I do not think the narrator realizes this.  He is so determined and focused on getting to Denver, a place he has put on such a high pedestal, that he ignores the adventures that stare him in the face as he attempts to get there. For example, when he is offered the job from the man who owns the carnival, he dismisses the opportunity because he does not want his arrival in Denver to be delayed; however, this is how adventures come about: through “spur of the moment” decisions.  He could have made money from the carnival, had a place to board, and done something exciting and unexpected, but instead, he chose to move on.

Furthermore, I do not think the narrator is so excited to get to Denver, as he is to see the people there.  He develops these attachments to exciting people who always leave him; they all have their own agenda, and it does not involve him.    Dean used the narrator for knowledge and board, and then left him to go to Denver.  Eddie used the narrator for food and bus tickets, and abandoned him when the trailer car only had space for one person.  For all we know, his wife used him and left him in the same fashion.  He claims to want to go to Denver for the adventure and excitement, but he is given opportunities to experience both on the road.  He rejects these opportunities, blinded by his fixation on getting to Denver and being with “the gang”.