On the Road

On the Road, published in 1957, is a novel by prominent Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac that recalls his cross-country travels across the US in the late 1940s. It explores concepts of society, freedom, and—most of all—friendship.

Sal Paradise (Kerouac’s pseudonym) is the story’s protagonist and narrator, while other key characters stand in for fellow Beat luminaries in his circle, including poet Allen Ginsberg (best known for the revolutionary 1956 poem Howl) and writer William S. Burroughs (who penned the 1959 novel Naked Lunch). In striking contrast to these intellectuals, however, is the central character, whose journeys are more literal—and whose love of life on the road is infectious.

Many consider On the Road one of the 20th century’s most important and influential novels. With its vibrant characters and incredible life experiences, the novel is an indelible snapshot of mid-century American restlessness and a burgeoning counterculture. Hailed as a modern classic, it was adapted into a film (released in 2012) by the same name.

Plot Summary

Sal Paradise (based on Kerouac) is a young writer living on the East Coast of the US in the late 1940s. Having recently divorced and recovered from an illness, he meets a chaotic young man named Dean Moriarty (based on Kerouac’s close friend Neal Cassady) whose exuberance has a profound effect on him. Dean, who was recently released from prison, breaks the rules of society in a way that Sal could never imagine doing. Whether stealing cars for fun, taking any drugs he can find, or committing bigamy by marrying two women, Dean's persistent criminality and refusal to adhere to social norms charm Sal.

Inspired by Dean and eager for adventure, Sal decides to live life to its fullest by hitchhiking to Denver to meet up with Dean and their friend Carlo Marx (based on poet Allen Ginsberg). On his way to Denver, Sal rides with truck drivers and farmers, sometimes travels by bus, and meets many colorful fellow passengers. In Denver, he meets up with Dean, Carlo, and others, and they attend crazy parties and hold long, introspective conversations deep into the night.

Sal eventually leaves Denver for San Francisco, reuniting with his old friend Remi Boncoeur. Sal and Remi work dead-end jobs and struggle to make ends meet— until Sal decides to hit the road again. During his travels, he meets a young Mexican woman named Terry and spends several months living with her and her young son in a tent. He struggles with difficult manual labor jobs (which are all he can find) and realizes that he must leave Terry and return east. Sal returns to New York and goes to his aunt’s house. Upon his arrival, he discovers that he’s just missed Dean.

In the winter of 1948, Sal visits relatives in Virginia. Dean arrives unexpectedly with his first wife, Marylou, having abandoned his second wife, Camille, and their newborn baby. Sal at once feels the urge to travel again, and he knows that Dean will tempt him back to the road. Dean offers to transport some furniture between Virginia and Sal’s aunt’s house in New Jersey, and they make the journey in two disorderly trips. Upon returning to New York, they drink, party, and listen to jazz.

Dean, Sal, and Marylou then drive to New Orleans, where they stay with a drug-addicted friend, Old Bull Lee (based on William S. Burroughs) for a few weeks before continuing their trip to San Francisco. There, Dean ditches Sal and Marylou to return to Camille. Soon, Marylou also abandons Sal and takes up with a rich older man. Sal then returns to New York but is soon restless and the following spring takes a bus to Denver. He discovers that none of his friends are in the city, so he feels lonely and goes back to San Francisco, where he shows up at Dean and Camille’s house. His arrival tempts Dean back to the road, and after Dean fights with Camille, he asks Sal to go with him to Denver to try to find Dean’s father. They also talk about later traveling to Italy.

Sal begins to realize that Dean doesn’t care about anyone but himself, though he can’t help but enjoy himself when he and Dean go on crazy adventures. They travel again across America by hitching rides, stealing, scamming, and trying to pick up women. When they reach Denver, they argue briefly when Dean points out that Sal is older than him, but they quickly make up. However, Dean cannot find his father and is disappointed to learn that the rest of the family wants nothing to do with him or his father. Sal and Dean then drive to Chicago in a borrowed Cadillac. Dean drives hard and fast, destroying the beautiful car and delivering it to the owner as a beaten-up wreck. They travel from Chicago to Detroit and then return to New York. Dean meets a woman named Inez at a party. Within months, she is pregnant. 

In 1950, Sal feels the urge to travel again. Dean has settled into a seemingly sensible life, working in a parking lot to support Inez while sending child support to Camille. Sal notices that his friend seems to have changed and travels to Denver alone. There, Sal and his friend Stan Shepherd plan a trip to Mexico. However, he learns that Dean has spent all his money on a car and is racing toward Denver to see his friends. He arrives in the city in a burst of energy, almost unable to speak sense. Sal, Stan, and Dean travel to Mexico. On their journey, they get very stoned and visit a brothel. They drive through the jungle until they reach Mexico City, where Sal contracts dysentery and slips into a fever. By the time he starts to recover, Dean is ready to leave. He abandons Sal in Mexico City and returns to the US.

Sal finally understands that Dean is a bad friend. Returning to the US, Sal meets and falls in love with a woman named Laura, and they plan to move to San Francisco. Dean hears of the plan and promises to help him move. However, Dean arrives five weeks early and can barely string together a coherent sentence. The plans fall apart. Eventually, Dean must travel back west. Sal leaves him standing on a street corner near the train station and drives away. Later, Sal sits on a pier and stares at the sunset, reflecting on Dean Moriarty’s unforgettable impression on his life.