It’s All About the Journey Not the Destination

Searching for Somewhere New

While reading the novel “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac, I couldn’t help but think about the idea that it is all about the journey rather than the destination. At so many times throughout the novel Sal gets excited about “going West” because he thinks that he will find meaning and friendship while there. Sal is constantly searching for something new. New people and places intrigue him but once he is there for a certain amount of time, and has exhausted all the local bars and clubs, he decides to head out on the road once again in search of a new destination. In a way Sal is never really satisfied with what he finds while out West because nothing can live up to his idealized image. When the place doesn’t live up to his unrealistic expectations he decides to flee in search of something bigger and better.

This constant traveling and searching makes Sal somewhat reminiscent of a nomad. He doesn’t really have a place where he feels most comfortable thus the constant moving around. It is never made clear what Sal was exactly searching for through his journeys to the West. But, from what I can deduce I think that Sal was looking for something to make his life important. He makes many mentions about finding a girl. I think that he wants this relationship in order to have someone who unconditionally relies on him and gives a reason to settle down.

I also think that Sal is looking for camaraderie. He uses the phrase “the gang” many times in the novel. This term makes it seem like Sal wants to appear to belong to a group, but in reality since he constantly moves around he is not able to find any true friends. This is evident in his friendship with Dean Moriarity. Their relationship is interesting and definitely strange. Dean is a man who uses his background as an excuse for his bad behavior. Even though he does come from a difficult upbringing it doesn’t really give him a reason to treat his friend the way he does. When Sal and Dean are driving through Bakersfield (p. 157), Sal tries to tell Dean a story but he is too “excited” to even notice that Sal is speaking. I think that this is in a way the epitome of their friendship. Dean doesn’t treat Sal like a true friend yet Sal still has such a strong desire to become close with Dean. I think that this desire stems from Deans carefree attitude. Perhaps Sal admires this quality and thinks that by spending time with Dean he might become more like him.

Living one’s life constantly “on the road” is a difficult way to create a stable life. Throughout the novel, it seems as if Sal Paradise was most happy when he was on the journey rather than at the destination. His time on the road was completely spontaneous and unplanned. Sal had no idea what would happen as he hitchhiked his way across the country. I think that this feeling of spontaneity is what Sal ultimately desired in his life.