Nomad vs. Traveler

cows looking for some new pasture to graze

While I was reading the book, it occurred to me that Dean is not really a traveler; he is a nomad. While the two are similar, there are several differences. A nomad wanders from place to place looking for, metaphorically, new pastures to graze whereas a traveler seeks new experiences in foreign lands. The difference, in my opinion, is that a nomad could wander down a long ally and feel that he has gone somewhere completely different than he was before, viewing his starting point and end point as two separate events and locations. If a traveler wandered down the same back ally, the slight change in location would feel like a continuation of his traveling experience, not a distinct and separate event. When I started to become aware of this distinction, it occurred to me that On The Road is just as much about placelessness as it is about place. Dean is, in essence, running from himself, by constantly changing locations. Changes in scenery are appealing to him because they allow him to forget about the lack of meaning in his life.

Dean seems to be afraid of what would happen if he made himself a real home. He would have to face the fact that he has three wives and several children. He would have to realize that he is not a very good friend and that he is disliked by a good amount of people. He would have to accept that the charm he uses to make good impressions while ‘On The Road’ will only take him far if it is backed by more solid character. For these reasons, it is hard for me to relate to Dean. It is easier for me to relate to Sal. Sal is a traveler. He is looking for something in his experiences, and by the end his character has developed as a result of his findings. He found confidence, he found love, and he found meaning in life.

By juxtaposing Sal and Dean, I think that Kerouac is showing that what can be gained ‘On The Road’ is more related to the travelers mindset than their experiences. If you are looking to escape, travel can be a slippery slope leading to even more meaninglessness and insanity. However, if a person travels to accumulate experience and bring that experience home, then traveling can be a good way to find oneself, as it was for Sal.