Ciara's Third Paper Blog

Marylou’s objectification was not solely shaped by Dean’s actions; Sal’s behavior and mindset had a large part in the injustice as well. Even in Sal’s initial description, the reader can see that Sal’s image of her is almost solely based on her aesthetics.  He depicts her as “a pretty blonde with immense ringlets of hair like a sea of golden tresses”, explaining, “outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb.”  Given these descriptions, it becomes evident that the reason for both Dean and Sal’s interest in Marylou stems from their adoration of her physical beauty, not any beauty or goodness they found within her character or personality.  She is a source of sexual pleasure and, in essence, a treat for them to observe as they attempt to quell their incessant hormones. Not once is Marylou’s mind addressed, in regards to her possessing any kind of intellect or thought besides sexual desire.  When Sal sees Marylou again after her and Dean split, he says: “Marylou had not slept since Denver.  I thought she looked older and more beautiful now”.  Though this might be taken as a compliment, Sal’s comment further enforces the fact that Marylou is merely a source of “eye candy” to Sal and the rest of the men in the novel.  The first person point of view of On the Road allows the reader to receive valuable insight into the way beatnik men perceived women during this time period.  Sal’s descriptions and references towards Mary Lou provide evidence for the idea that women were seen and used as nothing more than a source of physical pleasure.

Similarly to Sal’s descriptions of Marylou, the diction used to depict Terry was just as visually oriented.  She is said to have had “breasts that stuck out straight and true”, with “flanks that looked delicious” and hair that was “long and lustrous black”.  These foundations are the most vivacious descriptions we get of Terry throughout her short relationship with Sal, and well as the first descriptions we get of her.  Of course, it is foolish not to consider the fact that relationships usually begin based on an attraction between two people; however, Sal’s observations regarding Marylou are limited, besides the ones describing her physical appearance.  It is not only this specific relationship; every relationship in the novel seems to be mostly, if not purely, superficial, which would explain the unlucky nature of the relationships that both Dean and Sal experience.