Comparing On the Road and Easy Rider :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Par altogetherels in On the Roadand Easy Rider Released more than a decade apart, Kerouacs On the Road and Dennis Hoppers Easy Rider atomic number 18 replete with parallels. Both depict characters whose beliefs be not quite invariant with those of society in both cases these characters set out in await of kicks but become part of something larger along the way. More importantly, these cardinal texts each comment insightfully on the culture of their respective beats. But all these similarities become superficial in the face of the inherent differences between the two. In pre-Beat Generation America, anyone who looked could find a whole society of people who, for the most(prenominal) part, were afraid to do the things they dreamed, unable to break from complaisance. Kerouac saw this all roughly him, and with On the Road, he responds. He presents a tale of those who flee conformity successfully and without any significant negative consequences. Clearly, his audience consis ts of members of society who keep on content with conventional societal norms, who are too squeamish to do what they want. To them he argues that they ought to assert their personal identity rather than be indentured by an imposed social one, that they ought to follow their own desires rather than give way to societys. This occupation comes in multiple forms criticisms by Dean are such(prenominal) a form. At one point he cries the moment it comes time to act, this paralysis, scared, hysterical, nothing frightens em more than what they want (Kerouac 215). He also complains adjure them what they secretly want and they of course immediately become panic- stricken (Kerouac 209). These statements are part of Kerouacs argument in their critique of societys fearful attitude toward achieving desires. Sal reiterates the argument to disregard social identity when he accuses a girl he meets of an emptiness. . .that reached back generations and generations in her blood from not having do ne what was crying to be done. . .What do you want out of life? I wanted to resume her and wring it out of her (Kerouac 243). But Kerouacs strongest argument of all for individual freedom seems to come from example. In On the Road, Sal and Dean live an amazing fortuity together. Sure, they get pulled over a few times, but no veridical harm comes to them from any of their wild escapades. Apparently they are untouchable.