A Commentary on Part 2

       After finishing Part 2 of the novel this weekend, I must say that the novel has gotten more interesting and more complex. It would be difficult to touch on everything that occurred in this week’s reading because of the introduction of so many new conflicts along with a few new characters and of course a great amount of time “on the road”. 

       Towards the middle of Part 2, there begins a whole new element of disorder in the novel. We move again for new adventures out west and Sal becomes a bit more like Dean in terms of his partying style and overall outlook (he obviously still is not as cool as Dean). Sal develops as a character which makes the novel more interesting than before because he is no longer the character that just sits there and admires the actions of others. In addition, I believe that the greater focus on characters such as Marylou allows for the better understanding of some of the smaller, external conflicts in the novel. The dramatic change in both tempo and complexity after Part 1 of the novel has made the work somewhat more interesting and it truly leaves the audience wondering what is to come.

       I would like to make the major focus of my post on the time spent in New Orleans in the novel. When considering the fact that Kerouac wrote the novel during the 40’s and 50’s, it is remarkable to see the attitude that he exhibits in the novel towards the African-American culture. The audience can see a clear representation of the author’s perspective through the character’s comments on the jazz, bars, and other spectacles in New Orleans. Every character marvels at the African-American community’s excess of talent and I believe that it is incredible to see this in a novel that was written in times where segregation was still present. Jack Kerouac wrote the novel knowing that it would be subject to controversy if he idolized the African-American musicians (specifically in New Orleans), but clearly he did not care. I believe that these scenes in New Orleans are indicative of the overall purpose of the novel. In my opinion, the novel is a tool for the author to illustrate the cultural diversity across America that can be seen when “on the road”.