For those of you who read my first impression on this book, you may remember that I was hoping that Dean would be the intended main character but we would see him from the perspective of the narrator. While I still believe this would be a pretty awesome way to weave a story, I think I finally understand what the "main character", in a sense, is to be. The narrator is taking us on a journey, a fascinating journey filled with events, hardship, and most importantly people. The story is not about him, and I am inclined to argue that it isn't even about his journey across America, but rather I think it is about the people. I think the main event of this book is the people that the narrator encounters and describes in such a way that I at times was reminded of Calvino. Keroauc writes in such a way that I feel the characters encountered on this journey are real people with feelings, emotions, and stories. I stand by what I said two weeks ago, I think having Dean be the main character would be an enthralling experience, but I now understand that this story is not about the narrator, but entirely about what happens around him, and I fall for stories like that far too easily. If it is not entirely obvious by now, I think I am enjoying On The Road far more than I was two weeks ago.
I loved Felipe’s take on the novel this week compared to his opinion on it two weeks ago. In his first posting, I did not agree with Felipe in that he believed one person was going to define an entire region. However, western culture is made up of millions of people along with their specific and unique vantage points on its ‘free spirit.’ Instead of broadening the subject, he focused on the most significant aspect of the book that has also spoken to me. He too realized that the setting of the west is going to be created through the relationships that Sal makes with the people that he runs into on his journey. Felipe now acknowledges the idea of cultural landscape which states that people have the capacity to modify and shape an areas character and belief system instead of the idea that place shapes the people. Felipe has finally allowed himself to let go of logical theories to explain the novel and instead is permitting himself to go on the journey with Sal in order to characterize and define the true meaning of the western spirit of America.
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