Road Trips in Literature: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Travels with Charlie

Life on the road means being completely dependent on nature. Many people travel outdoors because of the compelling beauty of nature. Travelers of the road do it for the thrill, and others for soul-seeking. Nature has a strong effect on humans, whether it’s positive or negative. For example, a travel can either end in acknowledging the beauty of nature or a fatal accident. So many famous writers and philosophers write about the value of nature; Henry David Thoreau, Jack London, Boris Pasternak, and many others. Life on the road has its advantages and disadvantages. This can be seen when Jon Krakauer wrote about Chris McCandless, a very famous traveler and an intelligent man, after his death in the book, Into the Wild. Chris McCandless was a

“One of the generalities most often noted about Americans is that we are a restless, a dissatisfied, a searching people,”(Steinbeck America & Americans) John Steinbeck stated this when discussing the topic of the American dream. He believes that numerous Americans are chasing after a dream that is nearly impossible to reach. John Steinbeck expresses his belief on the American dream through a general negative attitude toward the American dream and the failed dreams of his characters.

Gradually, Sal becomes more and more dependent on Dean. He shapes his morals and values upon those of Dean, letting his life be controlled by the decisions that Dean makes, and even refusing to allow himself thoughts that contradict Dean’s. The impact Dean has on Sal’s identity is clearly illustrated in Chapter Seven, when, after Sal and Dean have been staying with their friend ‘Old Bull Lee’, Dean is ready to leave so Sal takes off with him despite his own desire to stay. He has reached a point where he is unable to make his own decisions, and must blindly follow Dean. His dependence on Dean has isolated him from his own feelings and thoughts, and he has compromised his own independence and power to make decisions.

Finally, I have a lot of motivation to get myself through my American experience. If you have not noticed. I have shown or you could point out that I am very determined. And of course, you don’t have to be so determined, but in my case. I am even though I am lazy. I want to be able to see myself living really well in the future. Or you could say that I want to have a good amount of money. But I am not selfish person, just as most of America, like Claude Fisher’s research said in “Sweet Land of… Conformity” is that “Americans also believe that once individuals are members of the group, they must be loyal”. I that is true for the most part because what I translate that to say. Is that you must love that group (family) that you were born into, or to love that family that you have put together. So it motivates me to work hard for those people, so that one day I can repay them.

In a world where survival is your only concern, what would you do to stay alive? This is one of many thought-provoking questions that Cormac McCarthy encourages in his book, The Road. McCarthy, a Rhode Island native is a seasoned author, with more than 14 other works in his portfolio. McCarthy is a very private man, and there isn’t a lot known about him. The lack of information on McCarthy does not reflect his writing abilities, which are very strong and not lacking at all.

One of the most significant external forces that changed Sal was the road trip. In the beginning of the story Sals mom had left her and her dad on an April morning. Then later on in the story her grandparents take her on a road trip to Lewiston so she can see her mom. On the road trip she doesn't want to believe her mother is dead but throughout the story she starts to realize that her mother might be dead. On page 249, the author wrote, “A bus when the of the road here a year ago,” he said. “Skidded right there, coming out of the last turn, and went sliding of this here overlook and through the railing and rolled over and over into those trees. A helluva thing. When I came home that night rescuers were still hacking their way throug the brush to get to in. Only one person survived, ya know.” I knew.” This shows that sal is starting to realize that her mother died on the bus crash. And if Sal didn't want to believe her mother was dead she would have said “no I don't know” instead of I knew. This changed Sal

In each novel of his personal literary journey, Cormac McCarthy examines death and God in different ways. Edwin T. Arnold, who wrote his essay “Blood and Grace: The Fiction of Cormac McCarthy” before The Road, examines how “McCarthy’s protagonists are most often those who, in their travels, are bereft of the voice of God and yet yearn to hear him speak” (14). In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the father explicitly describes his son as god; however, by juxtaposing the father and the son and examining their divine resemblances, it is not the boy but the man who embodies God, supporting Ely’s claim that this post-apocalyptic world is too harsh for God to exist.

Life of the road isn't meant for everyone. Of course everyone has a different mindset towards this topic but you will have to be in the correct mindset of this situation for this to fall on you. Weather people want to live life on the road or not it isn't suited for everyone. It maybe the sense that some people have a physical condition that will hold them back from going onto the road and doing this maybe the case. In many people's cases that they may love going out into the wilderness and exploring some may not be equipped with these sort of skills and may forgot to be prepared in a sense like Chris McCandless. In Chris’s case he just wanted to get out and explore, such like Jon Krakauer. Jon Krakauer talked about how toxic society was and how he just wanted to escape that. People often go out to explore the wild since they're already on the road but is Mr.McCandless point of view he just wanted to escape society and start fresh. People that don't admire the wild like chris does may change the view of life on the road.

As one is put through times of strife and struggle, an individual begins to lose their sense of human moral and switch into survival mode. Their main focus is their own survival, not of another's. In the post-apocalyptic novel, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a father and son travel along the road towards the coast, while battling to survive the harsh weather and scarce food supply, as well as avoid any threats that could do them harm. Throughout their journey along the road, the father and son are exposed to the horrid remnants of humanity. As a result, the father and son constantly refer to themselves as “the good guys” and that they “carry the fire”, meaning they carry the last existing spark of humanity within themselves. By the acts of compassion

For someone to be on the road, people usually assume that they have lost hope in life, or that they were not that determine to maintain a place in our social class.Those who decided to live on the road do it for a different reason, reason that are either a push or pull factor. Someone who has helicopter parents, or having a difficult time trying to fit into society can find a reason to venture out and find self. Someone who felt like they no longer have a purpose in life, can find it by going on the road, because no one know you better than yourself. When writing a story of your life, do not let anyone else hold the pen. Just like the north star, which helped slaves find their way from slavery and captivity. In order to find true self, risk must be taken. While life on the road can seem like an act of avoidance of reality and problems, it can help someone find a purpose for life and their true self, therefore I believe that life on the road, is helpfully for those who are struggling with problems.

Working hard is the key to success. This struggle for success is most commonly called the “American Dream.” The aspect of the American Dream has been around forever and is often the underlying theme in many pieces of American literature. The theme of the American is especially presented in Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Two Kinds writer by Amy Tan, and in “Sophistication” by Sherwood Anderson.

“Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins,” -Sharon Creech. Sals development through her life was mainly because of the points in her life where she accepted a challenge instead of denying it. In Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, the author develops the theme of acceptance through Sals characterization, internal and external conflict, and the plot of the story. During the story, Sals characterization contributes to the author’s theme of acceptance. The author uses Sal’s characterization to express her feelings when she says, “I did not think we would ever leave, and yet I did not want to leave.

Throughout the novel, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, McCarthy repetitively uses symbolism to portray several deeper themes throughout the novel. One theme of the symbolism that is mentioned many times in The Road is the fire. A significant occurrence of this is when the man is discussing the fire with the boy. '' 'Is the fire real? I don`t know where it.' 'Yes you do. It's inside you. It always was there. I can see it' "(McCarthy 279).The fire represents the hope for humanity, and the man sees the fire inside the boy. The boy shows compassion for everything, alive or dead. Not only does the fire symbolize the hope for humanity but it represents strength and the will to live. During the novel fires are lit to keep The Man and Boy safe and warm but the fire keeps them alive even in the heart of the storm.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is his post-apocalyptic magnus opus which combines a riveting plot along with an unconventional prose style. Released in 2006, the novel has won awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award (Wilson). Oprah Winfrey also selected the book for her book club ("Cormac McCarthy”). The author, Cormac McCarthy, was born in 1933 in Rhode Island and is said to have wrote the novel because of his son and their relationship. The Road centers around a boy and his father while they try to survive after an unknown disaster occurs. While some people may argue that the unusual style takes away from the novel, it adds to the tone and meaning of the work.

Imagine yourself living in a barren, desolate, cold, dreary world, with a constant fear of the future. The Road, written by Cormac McCarthy and published in 2006, is a vivid and heartwarming novel that takes us through the journey of a father and a son as they travel South in a post-apocalyptic environment facing persistent challenges and struggles. McCarthy proves that love unleashes immense strength to overcome obstacles, even in times of desperation.