《在路上》中反英雄形象的形成分析

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AbstractThisstudyanalyzesthetwoanti-heroicfiguresinJackKerouac’sOntheRoad.Theresearchprimarilyfocusesonthefactorscontributingtotheformationofanti-herocharactersinAmericanliteraryworksofthattime,especiallyspecificbehaviorsofSalParadiseandDeanMoriarty,andtheanti-heroictraitstheyembody.First,inthebackgroundofsocialunrestandeconomicprosperityintheAmerican,manypeopleareforcedtoconformtosocialnorms,whichleadstopeoplepursuefreedomwithrebelliousbehavior.Thesubsequentriseofmaterialismfurtherresultedinconfusioninpeople’sspiritualworld,andeventhealienationfromhumannature.Moreover,Kerouac’stravelexperiencesprovidedinspirationforthecreationofanti-heroicfiguresinOntheRoad,particularlyhisinteractionswithNealCassady.Additionally,theirbehavioursandthoughtsofBeatGeneration,furtherinfluencedthedevelopmentoftheanti-heroimages.ThisstudyspecificallyanalyzeshowSalandDeanrebelagainstsocialnormsthroughextremedemeanors.Finally,thestudyexplorestheimpactofanti-heroicfigures,especiallySalandDean’spursuitforidentity,andinfluencesonliteraryworks.ByanalyzingtheAmericansocialandeconomicbackdrop,Kerouac’stravelexperiences,andtheBeatGeneration’saspects,thisthesisexploresvariouscausesoftheanti-heroimages’formation.Thispaperfurtherdemonstrateshowthesefactorscollectivelypromotethedevelopmentoftheanti-herofigures.Thisstudynotonlyenrichestheconceptandtraitofanti-heroesinliteraturebutalsoexaminesthecausesoftheformationofanti-heroeswithaninnovativeperspective.Finally,thisresearchoffersasystematicframeworkfortheacademicwritingoftheanti-heroicfiguresinOntheRoad.Keywords:anti-heroicimages;JackKerouac;BeatGeneration;OntheRoad摘要本研究分析了杰克·凯鲁亚克《在路上》中的两位反英雄人物。本研究主要关注那时美国文学作品中反英雄人物形成的因素，尤其是萨尔·帕拉迪丝和迪安·莫里亚蒂的具体行为以及他们所体现的反英雄的特征。首先，在美国的社会动荡和经济繁荣下，许多人被迫遵循社会规范，这导致人们用追求反叛行为来追求自由。之后物质主义的兴起进一步导致人们精神世界的困惑甚至人性的疏远。此外，凯鲁亚克的旅行经历为《在路上》中反英雄人物的创造提供了灵感，尤其他与尼尔·卡萨迪之间的的来往。另外，垮掉一代他们的行为和思想进一步影响反英雄形象的发展。本研究具体分析萨尔和迪安通过极端的行为如何反叛社会规范。最后，本研究探讨了反英雄形象的影响尤其是萨尔和迪安对身份的追寻以及对文学作品的影响。通过分析美国社会经济背景、凯鲁亚克的旅行经历和垮掉一代的方面，这篇论文探讨了反英雄形象的多形成的不同原因。这篇论文进一步体现这些因素如何共同推动了反英雄形象的发展。本研究不仅丰富了文学中反英雄的概念和特征，而且以一种创新视角来考察反英雄形成的原因。最后，本研究为《在路上》中反英雄人物的学术写作提供了一个系统的框架。关键词：反英雄形象；杰克·凯鲁亚克；垮掉的一代；《在路上》IntroductionKerouac’sOntheRoadisanautobiographicalnovel.TheroadtripsofKerouacandhisfriendsprovidetheinspirationforthenovel’creation.KerouacisregardedasarepresentativefigureoftheBeatGeneration.Heusesmanyfamiliarindividualsascharactersinhisnovel,andNealCassadyisthemostinfluentialamonghisfriends,andCassadyistheprototypeofDeanMoriartyinOntheRoad.AftertheWorldWarII,theAmericanyoungergenerationlivesanoppressivelifeduetotheharshpoliticalandeconomicenvironment,forexample,theimplementationofMcCarthyismandtheriseofmaterialism.Asforyoungpeoplewithanti-herotraits,thissocietyappearedabsurd.Consequently,theyusedarebelliouslifestyletoindirectlyresistthisabsurdworld.Theypursuetheliberationoftheirsoulsthroughphysicalandspiritualstimulation.However,SalandDeanrejectallformsofconstraintintheirpursuitoffreedominthenovel.Theirextremebehaviorsarecloselyconnectedtothesefactors.ForeignresearchprimarilyanalyzestheBeatGenerationandKerouac’sspontaneouswritingstyleinOntheRoad.Domesticresearchfocusesontheseaspects:theBeatGeneration,thematicinterpretations,narrativestructure,andcharacteranalysis.IntheSpecificstudiesofZhouQianyanandXiuJingprovidevaluableinsightsformyacademicwriting.ZhouQianyananalyzedtheimpactsoftheBeatGenerationandthecreativebackgroundforanti-heroes’formationinOntheRoad,butthisstudydoesnotspecificallyanalyzetheanti-herocharacteristicsofthefigures.Similarly,XiuJingappliedpsychoanalytictheorytoexplorethepersonalitytraitsofSalandDean,butthisstudydoesnotsystematicallyanalyzethefactorscontributingtotheformationofanti-heroimages.Althoughexistingresearchprovidesusefulperspectives,studiesarestillagapabouttheformationofSalandDeanastheanti-heroes.Thisthesisenrichesthefactorsofanti-herofigures’formationinOntheRoadthroughthreekeyfactors:thepoliticalandeconomicchangesinpostwarAmerica,Kerouac’stravelexperiences,andthestateoftheBeatGeneration.BySalandDean’srebelliousbehaviorandlifestyleofthenovel,thethesisdeepenstheunderstandingoftheconceptandcharacteristicsofanti-heroes.Thethesisisdividedintofourparts.Thefirstpartdiscussestheconceptofanti-heroesandsocialcontext,anddistinguishesanti-heroesfromtraditionalheroesofliteraryterms.Thesecondpartexploresthemainfactorsintheformationofanti-heroes,includingthepoliticalandeconomicbackgroundintheAmerican,Kerouac’stravelexperiences,andthetraitsoftheBeatGeneration,furtherdemonstratingthattheformationofanti-heroimagesresultsfromvariouscauses.ThethirdpartfocusesonanalyzingSalandDean’santi-herotraits,includingtheirrebelliousactionsandattitudestowardlifeinthenovel.Thefinalpartanalyzestheimpactofanti-herofigures,includingthepromotionofidentityexploration,thequestioningoftraditionalvalues,andthecreationofprotagonistsinliteraryworks.PartILiteratureReviewResearchonOntheRoadfocusesontheBeatGeneration’scultureandthesocio-historicalcontextoftheanti-heroiccharacters.ThereisagapinunderstandinghowSalandDean’santi-herotraitsdevelop.Thispaperaimstoexploretheirevolutionwithinthespecifichistoricalandculturalcontexts.1.1StudiesonAnti-HeroImagesCurrentstudiesabouttheanti-heroiccharactersinOntheRoadfocusonhowSalandDeanopposetraditionalherostereotypesthroughrebellion,self-explorationanddefianceofsocialnorms.1.1.1TheConceptandHistoricalBackgroundofAnti-HeroImages“Anti-heroesarenottheoppositeofaProppianheroanddonotautomaticallyconstitutenegativecharacters.”Chicco,L.InstrumentsofDarkness:AnAnalysisofAnti-HeroicFiguresinEnglishLiterature[D].Venice:CafoscariUniversityofVenice,2023:17.Moreover,InAbrams’AGlossaryofLiteraryTerms,thedefinitionof“anti-hero”is:“Incontrasttotheimageofthegreat,noble,majestic,orheroichero,theanti-heroembodiescharacteristicsofbaseness,vulgarity,dejection,incompetence,orcunning.”艾布拉姆斯.文学术语词典[Z].北京:北京大学出版社,2009:23.Fowler,inADictionaryofModernWesternLiteraryCriticism,notesthat“inrecentyears,theabsurd,evil,orinsanenarrators-turned-heroescreatedbyBeckettandNabokovhaveledtotheemergenceofthetermanti-hero.”罗杰·福勒.现代西方文学批评术语词典[Z].成都:四川人民出版社,1987:123.Theseviewpointsfurtherindicate,unliketraditionalheroes,anti-heroesarenotflawless;theyareordinaryindividualswithcharacterflaws,physicaldefects,ormoralshortcomings.Thesecharactersdeviatefromtraditionalheroicnorms,existinginamorallyambiguousspacewheretheyarebothlikeable,yetalsoflawed.However,“inasickworld,embracingdefectivetraitsisnecessary,evennoble.”Prusa,I.Anti-Heroism[M].Cham:SpringerInternationalPublishing,2024:2.Thoughtheylackclassicalheroicattributessuchasnobilityandidealism,theypossessvirtueslikeintelligence,courage.AsRaneyandJanickenote,“anti-heroesarevirtuousbutflawed,criminalyetredeemable,andviolentbutjustified.”Raney,A.A.&S.H.Janicke.HowWeEnjoyandWhyWeSeekoutMorallyComplexCharacterinMediaEntertainment[M].NewYork:Routledge,2012:154.However,theimageofanti-heroemergedduringperiodsofsocialturmoilandupheaval,shapedbythecombinedforcesofAmericansociety,politics,andculture.Inthe1960s,Chicco,L.InstrumentsofDarkness:AnAnalysisofAnti-HeroicFiguresinEnglishLiterature[D].Venice:CafoscariUniversityofVenice,2023:17.艾布拉姆斯.文学术语词典[Z].北京:北京大学出版社,2009:23.罗杰·福勒.现代西方文学批评术语词典[Z].成都:四川人民出版社,1987:123.Prusa,I.Anti-Heroism[M].Cham:SpringerInternationalPublishing,2024:2.Raney,A.A.&S.H.Janicke.HowWeEnjoyandWhyWeSeekoutMorallyComplexCharacterinMediaEntertainment[M].NewYork:Routledge,2012:154.张迎春.解读《达拉斯买家俱乐部》中的反英雄形象[J].电影文学,2018(6):139.1.1.2TheSignificanceofAnti-HeroImagesinLiteratureAnti-heroiccharactersinpost-WorldWarIIAmericanliteratureembodythemessuchasabsurdity,alienation,andself-exploration.Alienationreferstotheprocessbywhichthingsdeviatefromtheiressenceandmovetowardtheiropposite.Anti-heroesareawareofthisalienationandstronglyresisttheexternalforcesthatsuppresstheirsenseofself.Forexample,Auggiefearsthat“acceptingcontrolfromotherswilldestroytheselfandbelievesthatcontemporarysocietyexcelsatdismantlingtheindividual.”Galloway,D.D.TheAbsurdHeroinAmericanFiction[M].Austin&London:UniversityofTexasPress,1974:96.Therefore,“anti-heroesresistexternalinfluencesthroughabsurdorrebelliousactionswhilecontinuallyseekingtheirtrueself.”陈雨宇.二战后美国小说反英雄人物形象分析[J].时代文学,2009(15):92.Throughthesedistortedanti-heroicfigures,writersrevealtheirreconcilablecontradictionsbetweentheindividualandsociety,theselfandreality.Meanwhile,Galloway,D.D.TheAbsurdHeroinAmericanFiction[M].Austin&London:UniversityofTexasPress,1974:96.陈雨宇.二战后美国小说反英雄人物形象分析[J].时代文学,2009(15):92.1.1.3TheDistinctionBetweenAnti-HeroesandTraditionalHeroes“Theanti-heroisaterminmodernliteraturethat,withinthepostmoderncontext,deconstructstraditionalheroismwhilereshapingexistingsocialvalues.”李丽.20世纪60年代美国小说中的反英雄形象研究[J].求知导刊,2017(2):159.Anti-heroesrejecttraditionalbehavioralnormsanddeniesthesocialcodesthatwereonceconsideredthefoundationofcivilizedsociety.However,thetraditionalheroreferstotraitsinheritedfrommedievalsecularheroes.Theseincludearelentlesspursuitoftruth,extraordinaryintelligenceandtalent,exceptionalperseverance,andmoralqualitiesdedicatedtothepublicgood.However,“withthecreationofthecomplexcharacterofhalf-angel,half-beastinDiderot’sphilosophicalnovelLarmor’sNephew,theconceptoftheanti-herowasintroducedintomodernWesternliterature.”周茜燕.《在路上》的反英雄主义评析[D].沈阳:辽宁大学,2014:30.李丽.20世纪60年代美国小说中的反英雄形象研究[J].求知导刊,2017(2):159.周茜燕.《在路上》的反英雄主义评析[D].沈阳:辽宁大学,2014:30.1.2StudiesonAnti-HeroImagesinOntheRoadSomeresearchontheanti-heroicfiguresinOntheRoadgenerallyagreesthatKerouacthroughthecharactersofSalandDeansubvertstheidealizedimageofthetraditionalhero,andpresentsmorecomplexandhumanizedfigures.1.2.1TheAnalysisofSal’sAnti-HeroImageResearchindicatesthat“Salbegantoreclaimhisindividualisticprinciplesandhisownwayofperceivingthingsinthemiddleofhisjourney.”Awadelkareem,K.JackKerouac’sSalinOntheRoadtranscendsthebarriers[J].WisdomJournalforStudiesandResearch,2024(1):108.Hestartedtothinkindependentlyandperceivetheworldthroughhisownlens..Salrecalled,“Everyoneisdoingwhattheythinktheyaresupposedtodo.”Kerouac,J.OntheRoad[M].NewYork:PenguinBooks,1976:61.Moreover,Emersonarguedthatindividualsshouldbreakfreefromsocialnormsanddirectives,refusingtoconformtothemajority.ThisnotionofnonconformitywasclearlyreflectedinSal’sinteractionswithMexicansandpeopleofcolor,broadeninghisunderstandingandperspective.Hebegantorealizehisbondwiththeworldaroundhim.InOntheRoad,JackKerouaccreatesthecharacterofSal,wholongstoescapetheconstraintsoftraditionalsocialorderwhilesimultaneouslygrapplingwithquestionsaboutthemeaningofhisexistence.Sal’sconflictingactionsreflecthisinnerstruggle,shapedbylong-termrepressionundersocialnorms.Drivenbyadesireforpleasure,heembarksonarecklessjourneyacrosstheopenroad.Ashefacestheconflictbetweenhisenvironmentandinnerneeds,“Sal’s“ego”graduallyyearnsforthe“id”,seekingAwadelkareem,K.JackKerouac’sSalinOntheRoadtranscendsthebarriers[J].WisdomJournalforStudiesandResearch,2024(1):108.Kerouac,J.OntheRoad[M].NewYork:PenguinBooks,1976:61.修晶.从精神分析视角解读《在路上》的主要人物形象[D].哈尔滨:哈尔滨理工大学,2020:18.凯鲁亚克.在路上[M].王永年,译.上海:上海译文出版社,2006:10.1.2.2TheAnalysisofDean’sAnti-HeroImageResearchshowsthatDean’santi-herotraitsaremainlyreflectedinhisdisdainforauthorityandhisstrongadherencetohisinstinctsandpersonalwill.Heoftenactswithoutregardforrules,livingindependently,butheholdsadeeprespectandadmirationforthepeoplefromthelowerclassesofsociety.Heresentstheinterferenceofothersand,athiscore,seeksalifeoffreedomandindependence.HeguidesSaltoexperiencethisfreedomthroughhisownexperiences.InDean’sview,thelifestyleadvocatedbytraditionalauthoritieslacksappealandisnotworthimitating.Deanmoreclearlyembodiesthethemeofrebellion,asheprominentlydisplaysthecorecharacteristicsofBeatGeneration,suchasanti-authority,andanti-tradition.Deanconstantlydeniesthesocialenvironmenthefindshimselfinandyearnstobreakfreefromtherepressivesocialorder.Deanoncesaid,“Myluggageisalwaysunderthebed,readytoleaveatanytime.”凯鲁亚克.在路上[M].王永年,译.上海:上海译文出版社,2006:321.Forhim,theroadliferepresentsanescapefromworldlyconstraintsinpursuitoffreedom.Despitelivingatransientlife,Deanremainsfullofvitality.Herefusestosupporthimselfthroughconventionalworkandevenbelievesthatarealisticlifestylecannotsatisfyhisdailyneeds.T凯鲁亚克.在路上[M].王永年,译.上海:上海译文出版社,2006:321.卢亚林.语反叛与妥协：《在路上》主题研究[J].当代外国文学,2004(2):130.PartIITheFactorsofAnti-HeroImages’FormationinOntheRoadTheformationofanti-heroesistheresultofmultiplefactorsfunctioningtogether.ThepoliticalandeconomicenvironmentintheAmericanleadtospiritualemptiness,suchasconfusionandselfishness.TheAmericanyoungerbeginstoindulgeinexcessivephysicalpleasures.Kerouac'stravelexperiences.Inparticular,hewasdeeplyinfluencedbyNealCassady.Theseprovidedthematerialsforthecreationofanti-herofigures.Kerouac'sportrayalofSalandDeanreflectsthecharacteristicsoftheanti-hero.Moreover,theBeatGenerationwasagroupofpeoplewholosefaithinsocietyandseekalifestyleoffreedom.Theirattitudetowardlifeissimilartothatoftheanti-herofigures.InotherWords,theirscorespiritissame.Beatgenerationalsoinfluencedthedevelopmentoftheanti-heroimages.2.1TheInfluencesofSocialandHistoricalBackgroundonAnti-HeroImagesInthepostwar,AmericansocietywasunderthethreatoftheColdWarandRedTerror.Againstthepoliticalbackground,manyscholarsandeventheentireliterarycommunityfellintosilence.Peopleareforcedtoconformtosocialnorms.Thesubsequenteconomicprosperitybringsaboutaseriesofspiritualcrises.Evenpeopleregardmaterialismasthesolegoaloflife.TheyoungergenerationinAmericabegintoseekaextremelifestyle,whichlaidthefoundationfortheemergenceanddevelopmentofanti-heroes.2.1.1Anti-HeroDevelopmentinPostwarSocialTurmoilAfterWorldWarII,theUnitedStatesimplementedaseriesofpoliciestomaintainitsdominantpositionandengagedintheColdWarwiththeSovietUnion.By1950,anythingthatdeviatedfromthemainstreamwasquicklymetwithsuspicion.In1951,thegovernmentcouldrevokepublicofficials’positionsbasedsolelyonsuspicion,leadingtothepersecutionofmanygovernmentofficials,scholars,andcelebrities.AsOmarSwartzsaid:ThiswasatimewhenthegovernmentprovokedfearsofCommunismandinstigatedmasswitchhuntsthatcondemnedmanyAmericanfortheirlegitimateandconstitutionallyprotectedactionsonbehalfoftheAmericanpoliticalLeft.Swartz,O.TheViewfromOntheRoad:TheRhetoricalVisionofJackKerouac[M].Carbondale&Edwardsville:SouthernIllinoisUniversity,1999:63.Swartz,O.TheViewfromOntheRoad:TheRhetoricalVisionofJackKerouac[M].Carbondale&Edwardsville:SouthernIllinoisUniversity,1999:63.Meanwhile,theimplementationofMcCarthyismplungedAmericansocietyintoastateof“RedTerror,”markedbysignificantsocialturmoil.TheColdWar,theVietnamWar,racialdiscrimination,andcyclicaleconomicrecessionsfollowedoneafteranother,causingtheyoungergenerationtograduallylosefaith.Moreover,manybookswereburned,progressiveintellectualsweresuppressed,andbaselessaccusationsofcommunismledtoastiflingofliteraryexpression.Duringthisperiod,mostwriterslosttheircourage,individuality,andfreedomofexpression.Theyeitherconformedtothepoliticalsystemoravoidedaddressingreal-worldissues.Therefore,theirworksfocusedexcessivelyonsuperficialaspects,neglectingthedeepermeaningandsubstanceofthecontent.AsNormanMailerpowerfullydeclaredthatthepresentageisatimeofpeopleblindlyfollowingsuit.Peoplearedeprivedofcourage,unabletomaintaintheirindividualityorspeakwiththeirownvoices.Againstthisbackdrop,themajorityofpeoplewereforcedtoconformtosocietalnorms,sacrificingtheirpersonalhappiness.Suchasocialenvironmentlaidthefoundationfortheemergenceoftheanti-heroicfigures.2.1.2TheEffectsofEconomicProsperityandSpiritualEmptinessonAnti-HeroImagesAfterWorldWarII,withthedevelopmentofindustrializationandcommercialization,theAmericaneconomyandtechnologicalleveladvancedrapidly.VarioushouseholdappliancesquicklybecameapartofAmericanlife.InOntheRoad,automobiles,highways,andrailwaysareubiquitousinAmericansociety.However,Americansadoptedmaterialismastheultimategoaloflife,whilematerialism,commercialism,andindividualismledpeopletobecomeincreasinglyselfish,evenspirituallyemptyandmorallydegraded.Theinfluenceofmaterialismdeepenedthealienationbetweenindividuals,contributingtospiritualcrisessuchasindifferenceanddisorientation,leavingmanyyoungAmericansfeelingunprecedentedconfusion.AsAlbertHoffmanoncestatedthatmaterialism,industrialization,andurbanizationhavedistancedtheyouthfromnature,causingpeopletofeelthatlifeisboring,meaningless,andlackinginfaith.”Inshort,societyfocusedmoreonpersonalmaterialwealthwhileneglectinginnerthought.Afterthewar,fewAmericansconcernedthemselveswithemotionalandspiritualfreedom,andthismaterialisticandselfishconsciousnesswasreflectedinliteraryworks.InOntheRoad,Salwitnessesthesceneofthousandsofpeoplerelentlesslyhustlingforadollar.Againstthebackdropofeconomicprosperity,people’sspiritualworldwasrepressed,whilesomeindulgedinexcessivephysicalpleasures,suchasalcoholabuseanddragracing.2.2TheImpactsoftheAuthor’sPersonalExperiencesonAnti-HeroImagesJackKerouac’stravelexperiencesdeeplyinfluencedthecreationoftheanti-herocharactersinOntheRoad.Duringhistravels,hemetNealCassady,andhisinteractionswithNealsparkedtheinspirationforthecreationofanti-herofigures.Additionally,Kerouac’sportrayalofhowSalandDeanhandletheirsexualrelationshipsinthenovelfurtheremphasizestheanti-heroes’pursuitoffreedom.2.2.1TheConnectionBetweenKerouac’sWanderingsExperiencesandAnti-HeroImagesAftertheoutbreakofWorldWarII,KerouacdroppedoutofColumbiaUniversityandenlistedinthemilitary,butquicklyretiredduetoinsubordination.Soonafter,hejoinedamerchantshipcrewandworkedonavesselthatcrossedtheNorthAtlanticandfacedsubmarinethreats.Afterthewar,KerouacreturnedtoNewYorkCity,focusingonwritingandstudy,duringwhichhemetwriterslikeAllenGinsbergandWilliamS.Burroughs.ThisperiodalsosawtheemergenceoftheBeatGenerationliterarymovement.In1946,KerouacmetNealCassady,acharmingyoungdrifterfromDenver,whowouldserveastheinspirationforthecharacterDeanMoriartyinOntheRoad.In1950,KerouacandNealreturnedtoDenverandtraveledtoMexicoCity.InFebruary1951,NealwroteKerouaca23,000-wordletterdescribinghissexualexperiencesandstream-of-consciousnessthoughts.Inspiredbythisletter,Kerouac,aftertakingamphetamines,wrotethemanuscriptforOntheRoadinjust20days.From1952to1953,Kerouactraveledextensively,fromSanFranciscoandNewMexicotoNewYork,leadingahighlyunstablelife.Heworkedasabrakemanontherailroad,experiencinganomadicexistencesimilartoCassady’s.WhenKerouacarrivedinNewYork,hewasdrawntoCassady,whohadgrownupinatraditionalfamilybuthadgainedthecouragetoembracefreedomandindulgencefromNeal.Throughtheirinteractions,CassadyprofoundlyinfluencedKerouac’slifeandwriting.WithoutNeal,Kerouac’sliterarypathmighthavebeenvastlydifferent.AlthoughKerouacrealizedthatCassadywasamanipulativepseudo-intellectual,headmiredCassady’spassionforlifeandhisthirstforknowledge.CassadyultimatelybecametheinspirationforthecharacterDeanMoriartyinOntheRoad.Intheyearsthatfollowed,KerouaccontinuedtotravelacrossAmerica,eitherwithNealoronhisown.2.2.2Kerouac’sdescriptionofAnti-HeroImagesinOntheRoadKerouac’swanderings’experienceslaidthefoundationfortheportrayalofthetwoanti-herofiguresinOntheRoad.KerouacillustratesthedifferentwaysDeanandSalhandletheirsexualrelationshipsinthenovel.Theyhaverelationshipswithdiversewomen,buttheybothdiscardthem.Theirattitudestowardssexrepresenttheanti-hero’spursuitofspiritualbeliefandahigher-levelself-examination.Atthebeginningofthenovel,JackKerouacdescribesDeanwiththefollowingdescription:“Forhimsexwastheoneandonlyholyandimportantthinginthelife.”Kerouac,J.OntheRoad[M].Kerouac,J.OntheRoad[M].NewYork:TheVikingPress,1959:4.I’vepleadedandpleadedwithMarylouforapeacefulsweetunderstandingofpurelovebetweenusforeverwithallhasslesthrownout-sheunderstands;hermindisbentonsomethingelse-she’safterme;shewon’tunderstandhowmuchIloveher,she’sknittingmydoom.Ibid.,1Ibid.,110.AsMarylou’sattemptstocontrolandrestricthim,Deanultimatelylefther.Later,DeanmarriedanotherwomannamedCamille.Afterwards,Camillealsoconstantlyrestrictedhisfreedom,andtheycouldn’tunderstandeachother.AsDeansays,“She’sgettingworseandworse,man,shecriesandmakestantrums,won’tletmeouttoseeSlimGaillard,getsmadeverytimeI’mlate,thenwhenIstayhomeshewon’ttalktomeandsaysI’manutterbeast.”Ibid.,112.Therefore,theirmarriagealsoendedinfailure.SalwasnotasfrivolousasDean.Inthefirstpartofthenovel,SaldeeplylovedawomannamedTerry.HelearnedhowtomakemoneybypickingcottontosupportTerryandherchild.AlthoughSalstilllovedher,hisyearningforfreedomledhimtoleaveher.Later,SalfellinlovewithagirlnamedLucille.BecauseshewantedSaltofollowherlifestyleandtheyfailedtounderstandeachother,Saleventuallygaveherup.AsSalsays,“LucillewouldneverunderstandmebecauseIliketoomanythingsandgetallconfusedandhang-uprunningfromonefallingstartoanothertillIdrop.”Ibid.,113.NeitherwomennorlovewerewhatSaltrulysought.Heneededtoescapefromtherelationshiptoseekhisbelief.Inshort,theabsurdbehaviorofDeanandSaltowardstheirsexualrelationshipsisanexpressionoftheirrebellionafterlosingfaithinsociety,Ibid.,112.Ibid.,113.2.3TheInfluencesoftheBeatGenerationonAnti-HeroImagesTheterm“Beat”conveysapositiveattitudetowardlife,encapsulatingadesiretobreakfreefromtraditionalconstraintsandpursuefreedomandspiritualliberation.TheformationoftheBeatGenerationwasrootedinaneramarkedbyprofoundanxiety,includingeconomicdepressionandaharshpoliticalenvironment,especiallyfollowingWorldWarII.Thisgeneration’strustinsocietygraduallyeroded.AsJohnClellonHolmesnoted,“itisthefirstgenerationtodeeplyexperiencethesuppressionofhumanwillthroughissueslikegenocide,brainwashing,cybernetics,andmotivationalresearch.Itisalsothefirstgenerationtogrowupunderthethreatofnuclearannihilation.”Holmes,J.C.ThePhilosophyoftheBeatGeneration[M].NewYork:Penguin,1958:231.Asaresult,theirsenseofidentificationwiththenationandsocietydwindled,andtheyturnedtoextremelifestyles.TheBeatGenerationexhibitedastronginterestinvariousformsofextremeexperiences,expressingtheirdissatisfactionwiththestatusquothroughdrugs,alcohol,andindulgence.Theyrejectedsocialresponsibilities,scornedtraditionallawsandnorms,andrebelledagainstsecularstereotypes,seekingnewthrillsandchallengingconventionalvalues.JackKerouac’sOntheRoadreflectstheconfusionanddesiresofthisgeneration.TherebelliousbehaviorofSalandDeanembodiesthespiritoftheBeatGeneration.SalsawDeanasasymboloftheBeatspirit,withhislifemottobeingayearningforloveandsustenance.Inthenarrative,SalandDeantraversetheAmericancontinent,outwardlyinsearchofpleasure,butinwardlyseekingspiritualsolace.Holmes,J.C.ThePhilosophyoftheBeatGeneration[M].NewYork:Penguin,1958:231.PartIIITheProcessofAnti-HeroImages’FormationinOntheRoadAlthoughSalexhibitsrebellioustraitsduringhisjourney,hegivesupthejourneywithDeanintheend.Thisshowsthathecompromisesbetweenrebellionandresponsibility.Therefore,Salisnotacompleteanti-hero.Incontrast,AsDeanisinfluencedbyhisearlylifeexperiences,heactspurelybyinstinct.Hechoosesanextremelifestyletopursuefreedom,whichleadstoasenseofspiritualemptiness.Deanisatypicalanti-hero.3.1TheFormationofSal’sAnti-HeroImageAsthenarratorofthenovel,Salbeginshisjourneyinthedepthsofdespairfollowingthebreakdownofhisfirstmarriage,feelingthateverythingwasdied.However,thearrivalofDeanignitesthemotivationforhimtosetoutonceagain.Salhadlongdreamedofheadingwesttoexploretheland,oftenmakingplans,butneveractingonthem.Dean’spresencebreathesnewlif