Jack Kerouac’s "On The Road": A Cultural Rebellion

Abstract

This paper explores the significant impact of the Beat Generation on post-World War II American culture and literature, focusing specifically on Jack Kerouac's seminal work, On the Road. Emerging in the late 1940s and 1950s, the Beat Generation comprised writers and artists who rejected the materialism and conformity of American society, advocating values of autonomy, spontaneity, and spiritual depth. Through a close reading of On the Road, this analysis examines Kerouac’s narrative style and character development, highlighting the philosophical ethos of the Beats. The findings reveal that Kerouac's protagonists embody a rejection of the traditional American Dream, embarking on journeys across the nation in search of authenticity and meaning within a commercially driven landscape. Ultimately, the study suggests that future research should investigate the broader cultural implications of Beat literature and its lasting influence on contemporary American values and artistic expressions, further enriching our understanding of this pivotal literary movement.