Abstract

On The Road is a novel written by American writer Jack Kerouac, telling a cross-country story of the narrator Sal Paradise and his friends' several journeys across America and into Mexico. The novel has become the testaments of the Beat Generation and it has a measureless influence on the values and life styles in America. Traditional criticism of On The Road pays more attention to the theme of rebellion through fast-speed driving, drug-taking and love-making. Recent criticism begins to turn some attention in the protagonists' quest for their existential essence.

-Considered the social background of US in 1950s, existentialism, especially Sartrean existentialism, do have an prevalent impact on American intellectuals and the spontaneous writing style of On The Road. The Columbia History of American Novel labels the Beats as “existential heroes”, remarks that their “life on the existential edge approached the degree of authenticity. ”[David Uan Leer, 2005:493] ,and describes the whole journey of On The Road as "transcendence."

Inspired by this argument, through the beats’ experience in the novel, the thesis intends to analyze the theme of On The Road from the Sartrean existentialism perspectives of “World is absurd”, “anguish,” “freedom of choice,” “transcendence,” etc. 

The introduction gives a brief description of On The Road and Sartrean existentialism and also shows the purpose as well as the significance of this research.

Besides Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis consists of two chapters. 

Chapter One gives a summary of the previous study of the theme of On The Road，explains main ideas of Sartrean existentialism, presents how it is penetrated in the analysis of the theme of the novel and proves that On The Road can be read from this perspective.,

Chapter Two can be divided into two parts. Part one depicts the absurdity of the world and scrutinizes the anguish of existence caused by alienation. Part two discusses the third principle of Sartrean philosophy——“free choice”. It consists of two parts: Escape from the inauthentic existence which lies in social conformity and political repression; Searching for transcendence by means of returning to nature，high sensory experience and taking responsibility for their choices.

Through the above study, the thesis draws the conclusion that the existential heroes are thrown into the absurd existence and confront anguish, in which they can only employ “freedom of choice” to escape from inauthentic existence and search for authentic existence through returning to nature，high sensory experience and taking responsibility for their choices.

Key words: Sartrean Existentialism; On The Road; Anguish; Free choice; Transcendence

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1.Introduction-1

1.1 Background-1

1.2 Significance-1

1.3-Framework-1

2. Theoretical Basis-2

2.1Previous study of the theme of On The Road-2

2.2Basic views of Sartrean Existentialism-4

3. The Analysis of the Theme from the Perspective of Existentialism-6

3.1 The background of the theme: The World is Absurd and Man is anguish of Alienation-6

3.1.1 The world is absurd-6

3.1.2 Man is anguish of Alienation-8

3.2 The analysis of the Theme: Escape and Search-9

3.2.1 Escape from the inauthentic existence-9

3.2.1.1An escape from the conformity-10

3.2.1.2An escape from political repression-10

3.2.2 Search authentic existence-11

3.2.2.1The road of searching for natural Transcendence-12

3.2.2.2The road of searching for high sensory experience—Another way to transcendence-13

3.2.2.3The road of taking responsibility-15

4.CONCLUSION-17

5.Notes-18

6.References-20