Sunday, February 2, 2014

Ciara's Reaction to Chapters 5-6

Sal, Dean, and the rest of the crew head back out on the road in this section, and it reminds me of the times they had in the beginning of the book.  I now have a better understanding of the Beat generation from Sal’s memories, and how important it was for them to keep moving.  I guess the purpose of them moving was to ultimately find their purpose, but I am starting to think their purpose was to keep moving.  Even when Sal’s life seems to be moving in what society would call the right direction, he ends up packing up and going out on the road again.  He tells his aunt that he’ll only be gone for two weeks and that he’ll be back in time to start school, but I don’t find that likely, especially when Dean is involved.  The beat generation is known for taking the road less traveled, not the path of school, work, and a life settled down. 


Dean is even more frenzied than he was in the beginning of the book.  It does not seem to worry Sal, but I am a little concerned about where his psychotic behavior will bring Sal.  Sal will follow Dean around like a lost puppy wherever he goes, and Dean’s behavior is becoming more and more unpredictable.  Bull put it best: Dean’s fate is “compulsive psychosis dashed with a jigger of psychopathic irresponsibility and violence.”  Bull tries to convince Sal to stay in New Orleans with him so that he doesn’t get even more caught up in Dean’s vortex of trouble, but Sal doesn’t even comment on it.  Sal love the life he lives when he’s with Dean, and I am not sure what it will take for Sal to finally break his ties with Dean.  I imagine Dean will get into some kind of trouble at some point in the book that will prevent the continuation of their friendship; otherwise, I don’t see Sal leaving Dean’s side any time soon.

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