Juan's Reaction to Alexa's Post on ch 7-8

I can see where Alexa is coming from and why she would be upset at the way Dean acts. He is, in fact, what one would call a player and womanizer. Also, I disagree on the fact that she should be ashamed at having made a comparison between Gatsby and Dean because the way we perceive Dean is through the eyes of Sal, who happens to admire and almost worship Dean. Because of this, it would be understandable for us as readers to perceive him in a similar fashion. I also happen to disagree on the idea that all men are the way Dean is because that is not true. One cannot make a sweeping generalization such as that one. Finally, I agree on the point that Sal does need to become more independent of Dean, and I would like to see him be himself.  

On the Road Reaction to chapters 7-8

Chapters 7-8 of on the road were a bit strange for me. As the story progresses, rather than relating more and more to the protagonist of the story, I am losing some respect for him. Sal is trying to be someone he is not by travelling across the country and chasing Dean Moriarty, the person he wants to be like. I dislike the fact that Sal has put forth so much effort simply to follow a person like Dean. I understand that Sal looks up to Dean, but the fact that he does so also bothers me. Sure, Dean gets the ladies and is adventurous, but aside from that, he is not successful in any respect. What I think may be the reason Sal is following Dean is that Sal is unhappy with himself. Then again though, the story is narrated with no emotion, and so the reader is left to wonder what exactly Sal is thinking. As the story goes along, things just happen, and because of this we are continuously left unaware of what goes through the character’s minds. Furthermore, I am wondering right now whether or not Sal will continue to follow Dean on his adventures, as Dean wants to leave for San Francisco. If Sal does go ahead and follow Dean on this journey, I think I will rename the book “On the Road: The Story of How Sal Follows Dean.” The only point where I saw that Sal was slightly off put by Dean and Carlo’s strange behaviors was when Dean and Carlo are having their strange “heart-to-hearts” and I feel like he questioned what Dean was doing, if even for a moment. I am curious to find out how Kerouac will develop his story further and in which direction he will take his story.

Sharon's Response to Alexa's Reaction

       I agree with Alexa as I am not completely engaged in the novel yet. I feel that it may be because as a protagonist, Sal is somewhat bland. He is passive, and so far, the readings have been repetitive in emphasizing and demonstrating through different instances, that Sal would like to be exciting and carry this out by idolizing and following Dean. However, I feel that his last trip to Central City will signal in a new pace of the novel. The reason for this is because, just as Alexa says, Sal seems to finally pick up how distant he and Dean truly are. I don’t necessarily think that he left to Central City because of this fact, but rather, it’s something he realized after returning from his trip and experiencing the vivacity of life without Dean. Like Alexa, I hope that further along in the book, Sal will start living his own adventure.

Chapters 9-10

            Sal’s story continues in Denver.  He also continues to try and fit in with Dean by trying unsuccessfully to get with girls.  Sal has a more quiet and philosophical attitude, yet he tries to fit in with the kids who are tough, stupid, and womanizers.  At the end of chapter 10, he kind of realizes that he acted stupidly with Rita and wishes that he had been himself with her, rather than act the way Dean would have.  I hope for Sal’s sake that he continues to realize that Dean isn’t worth changing his whole way of thinking.  If Dean has an idea, Sal will hold off his plans in order to fit Dean into his schedule.  He started this adventure in order to get away from his crazy annoying life in the east, and his life has become increasingly hectic when Dean is with him.  Dean’s ideas never end well; Sal enjoys himself better when he is alone with strangers on the road in between destinations.  Chapter 10 leaves us with Dean about to leave for San Francisco, and I hope he enjoys himself more on the road than he did while he was in Denver.  Rather than trying to fit in with others, I want Sal to become more comfortable with himself and not worry so much about Dean and Carlos.      

Reaction to On the Road 9-10

       I feel that this reading gave a lot of insight about the 1950’s; Sal mentions Central City being revived by the new West, and the excitement of opera houses reappearing, tourists visiting and even Hollywood stars making appearances. For the first time, he is having a great time with a new set of friends; it seems that he’s honestly enjoying the carefree, fast-paced, living-in-the-moment life through bar-hopping and getting with girls. Furthermore, towards the end of chapter nine, I loved how he described the darkness and openness of everything that lay ahead in the ‘mighty land’; his descriptions of the Plains, and the Colorado and Utah deserts all capture the freedom and unknown of the territory he wants to travel. The irony of his experiences, however, is that Dean and Carlo are not there. The first time he travels away from them is the first time he’s been able to experience the true vivacity and culture of a city –this goes to show how much he’s limited himself by staying with ‘the gang’.

       Of course, Sal ends up returning to Denver, but he seems to have changed after the experience at Central City. In fact, I found it quite interesting at how towards the end of Chapter Ten, Sal finally realizes how distant he and Dean are from each other, only talking for less than five minutes. He is determined to go to San Francisco, yet I am now unsure whether it is because Dean mentioned he wanted to go there, or because Sal truly wants to travel and experience the West –he seems to be changing, as demonstrated in his interest in Rita, and this may signal a new direction in the novel.

Alexa Response to Ciara

I agree strongly with what Ciara stated in her reaction. I also enjoy seeing Carlo and Dean emerge as the original hipsters. They are the ones who actually do not care and are just living to live. Sal wishes he could be like them but he’s too focused on observing everything else around him that he is not allowing himself to just live.  I love that Ciara mentioned The Great Gatsby because I have made several references regarding their similarities in past reactions. Sal is very much like Nick in the way he tells the story. It’s almost as Sal should be documenting only Dean’s life because it is far more interesting. I just wish Sal would let loose and live a little, not pretend. 

Alexa Ferrer Ch 9-10

To tell you the truth I am not completely engaged in this reading, which is a first all year. I loved Atlas Shrugged, the Calvino stories, and The Stranger, but for some reason this book is not clicking with me yet. I do not feel compelled to keep reading and find out what happens it is more of a routinely “get these two chapters done and write what I feel about it”. The book is an easy read and I do not find it boring, it’s just kind of whatever to me right now. Hopefully it will pick up.

I was really surprised to see Sal go on a trip without Dean. The entire time he’s been thinking about finally meeting up with Dean and now he is voluntarily going on a trip without him. I think he is beginning to realize how left out he truly is when it comes to Dean and Carlo. They just go with the flow and do not pay attention to anything else. Sal desperately wants to go with “their” flow and get their attention. Maybe he is feeling a little discouraged because he is not clicking with them like he wanted to and that’s why he makes the trip.

I would like to see something serious happen with Sal, either good or bad. I feel like the audience is still waiting for him to live his own adventure, because frankly the most interesting parts of the book are watching other people live their own crazy lives, like Dean. The marking of the new generation of kids “on the road” is what this book is all about, but Sal is just trying too hard. 

Ciara's Response to Gabe's Reaction

I see what Gabe is saying about Sal being very passive, but I do not think this excludes him from the beatniks.  The beat generation was characterized as the youth of America going against the accepted “norms” of society and doing more of what they wanted and less of what was expected; Sal picked up and left his whole life behind for a life on the road, getting drunk, having sex, and hitching rides with strangers on the way there. He abandons all material items, carrying nothing but a few dollars and shirts, and embarks on a quest to self-actualize.  He is disenchanted by everything he left behind and he lets himself go for what seems like the first time in his life.  As for why Sal is going to San Francisco, I am not sure if it is about Dean anymore.  He seems to be realizing that Dean has no time for him, suggested when he cites that he has only talked to Dean for 5 minutes since he arrived in Denver.  Rather than him following Dean everywhere, it is Sal who makes the first move this time, and it seems like everyone will be following him to “Frisco” shortly.

Ciara's Reaction to Chapters 9-10

Sal heads out to the Rockies in this segment of On the Road, and I was surprised that he decided to go.  His attendance meant that he would not see Carlo, and more importantly, Dean, for the next five days.  I think he might be coming to the realization that they have no time for him; besides, Dean and Carlo spend their time philosophizing about life whereas Sal wants to go out and have a good time.  Sal has a great line that I really enjoyed where he says that Dean and Carlo are “the sordid hipsters of America”, which I can definitely see.  Dean and Carlo and the rest of them are, in essence, the original hipsters.  Just like this generation was fascinated with the emergence of hipsters, I think this was what was so intriguing about this book when it came out.  The book represents a change in the young adults of America and a defiance of the social norms that would have resonated with the youth of the nation, what is now known as the beat generation.

This segment further reinforced the idea that Sal speaks mostly objectively, and I think this is important to really get the feel of the beat generation across.  Just like Nick’s character in The Great Gatsby, Sal has few opinions and merely cites what he sees and what is going on around him.  Objectivity would only smudge the pure picture being painted of the new youth of America, the youth rejecting the received standards and submitting more to their own will.

First Quarter Open Discussion Video

Video Discussion Link