Jack Kerouac Criticism
Jack Kerouac, born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac in 1922, stands as a central figure in the Beat movement of the 1950s, which emerged as a countercultural response to the conservatism of post-war America. His literature, particularly the seminal novel On the Road, encapsulates the themes of wanderlust, experimentation, and the pursuit of freedom that defined the Beats, as articulated in The Road as Transition. Kerouac's upbringing in a French-Canadian community in Massachusetts, combined with his academic pursuits and bohemian lifestyle, fueled his creative journey, which ultimately led to literary acclaim. However, as explored by Kerouac: Writer without a Home, Kerouac's rise to fame was accompanied by personal struggles, including alcoholism and feelings of alienation from the movement he helped define.
Kerouac's major works, such as The Dharma Bums, The Subterraneans, and Visions of Cody, form "The Legend of Duluoz," a series of autobiographical novels. These books mirror real-life figures from his circle, with his "spontaneous prose" style drawing inspiration from the stream-of-consciousness technique and Neal Cassady’s energetic letters. This literary approach is analyzed in On the Road Reconsidered: Kerouac and the Modernist Tradition. Initially criticized for moral laxity, On the Road later gained recognition for its spiritual exploration and its place within American "road literature," comparable to works like Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as discussed in Kerouac among the Fellahin: On the Road to the Postmodern.
Kerouac's writing embodies a deep ambivalence towards authority and a yearning for lost innocence, influenced by his Catholic upbringing and personal losses, themes examined by Robert A. Hipkiss. His distinctive "spontaneous prose"—a blend of jazz-like spontaneity and stream-of-consciousness technique—invites comparisons to James Joyce, with Tim Hunt noting the crafted nature behind the seeming spontaneity. Furthermore, John Tytell and Gary Lindberg explore the complex representation of male friendships in his work, particularly through the character of Dean Moriarty, based on Neal Cassady.
Despite initial critical dismissal, Kerouac's work has undergone extensive reassessment, solidifying his influence in modern American literature. His letters reveal the personal complexities and literary frustrations he faced, further illuminated by evaluations in the Small Press Review. His style, blending rhythmic prose with sentimental depth, is characterized by a commitment to capturing the essence of his era, even as Seymour Krim notes the perceived carelessness of his approach. However, critics like J. Meredith Neil see On the Road as a critique of America's perpetual motion, while Warren Tallman and Allen Ginsberg emphasize its jazz-influenced spontaneity. Through a comprehensive re-evaluation, Kerouac's legacy as a pivotal chronicler of post-war American life is continually affirmed, resonating with readers and scholars alike.
Contents
- Principal Works
- Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 2)
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Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 14)
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King of the Beats
(summary)
In the following essay, Seymour Krim critiques Jack Kerouac's literary style as often careless and unrefined, yet acknowledges his unique ability to capture the essence of his experiences and the modern era, emphasizing Kerouac's courage in documenting his life without concern for conventional literary standards.
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Kerouac's Sound
(summary)
In the following essay, Warren Tallman examines Kerouac's distinctive style, noting his ability to fuse jazz-like spontaneity with profound sentimentality in his prose, while arguing that despite his limitations in conveying climactic moments, Kerouac's work resonates deeply with the American experience and creates new possibilities for the novel.
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The Beat in the Rise of the Populist Culture
(summary)
In the following essay, Kingsley Widmer critiques Jack Kerouac's work as a portrayal of rebellious escapism from middle-class restraints, characterized by a childish yearning for innocence and existential freedom, while highlighting Kerouac's insightful yet ultimately superficial depiction of mid-20th century American culture.
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Kerouac
(summary)
In the following essay, Allen Ginsberg argues that Jack Kerouac's writing is distinguished by its musicality and rhythm, drawing inspiration from jazz to infuse his prose with a unique auditory and rhythmic quality that mirrors American speech, thus adding a new dimension to literary prose.
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1955: The Beginnings of Our Times
(summary)
In the following essay, J. Meredith Neil contends that Jack Kerouac's novels, particularly On the Road, symbolize a critique of America's obsession with perpetual motion and superficial progress, highlighting existential emptiness, and ultimately chart a course from restlessness to a new consciousness embodied in Kerouac's later works.
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Off the Road
(summary)
In the following essay, Eric Korn argues that Jack Kerouac's Doctor Sax serves as a myth of puberty and captures his unique literary style, reflecting his nostalgia and vivid imagination, which may affect the reader's appreciation depending on their response to his prose style.
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King of the Beats
(summary)
- Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 5)
- Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 1)
- Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 3)
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Kerouac, Jack (Vol. 29)
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Jack Kerouac: Prophet of the New Romanticism
(summary)
In the following essay, Robert A. Hipkiss argues that Jack Kerouac's literature reflects a deep-seated ambivalence towards paternal authority and a profound attachment to the maternal figure, which influences his depiction of women and the preservation of childhood innocence against the competitive and corrupt adult world.
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The Joy of 'On the Road'
(summary)
In the following essay, John Tytell explores the enduring appeal of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, highlighting its revolutionary portrayal of a subculture rejecting 1950s conformity, and examining the dichotomies embodied in Dean Moriarty, whose exuberant freedom both undermines traditional values and leaves the narrator, Sal Paradise, in existential uncertainty.
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Kerouac's Crooked Road: Development of a Fiction
(summary)
In the following essay, Tim Hunt argues that contrary to its reputation, Jack Kerouac's On the Road is a thoroughly crafted traditional novel, challenging the notion of Kerouac's rejection of revision, and explores the intricate dynamics of the main character, Sal Paradise, as both a character and narrator in the context of American cultural and literary motifs.
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Faith on the Run
(summary)
In the following essay, Gary Lindberg argues that in "On the Road," Jack Kerouac portrays Dean Moriarty as an American con man whose frenetic energy and visionary enthusiasm elevate him to a heroic figure, embodying a modern archetype of faith despite his criminality.
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Small Press Review
(summary)
In the following essay, the critic examines "Dear Carolyn, Letters to Carolyn Cassady" revealing both Jack Kerouac's literary prowess and personal flaws, notably his anti-semitism and affectionate connections, while highlighting his frustrations with critics and affirming his influential role in American literature.
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Jack Kerouac: Prophet of the New Romanticism
(summary)
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Kerouac, Jack
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Off the Track
(summary)
In the following essay, French discusses key differences among The Subterraneans, The Dharma Bums, Pic, and Kerouac's other major novels.
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The Road as Transition
(summary)
In the following essay, Weinreich discusses On the Road as a picaresque novel.
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The Sound of Despair: A Perfected Nonlinearity
(summary)
In the following essay, Weinreich examines Desolation Angels as the culmination of Kerouac's religious and philosophical thinking just before the publication of On the Road.
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On the Road Reconsidered: Kerouac and the Modernist Tradition
(summary)
In the following essay, Malmgren asserts that Kerouac achieved an anti-Modernist aesthetic in On the Road.
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Kerouac: Writer without a Home
(summary)
In the following essay, Nicosia examines the theme of homelessness in Kerouac's writings, as well as the biographical reasons behind the recurrent theme.
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Kerouac's The Subterraneans: A Study of ‘Romantic Primitivism’
(summary)
In the following essay, Panish argues that Kerouac unwittingly used white stereotypes of African-Americans to achieve intertextuality with black jazz culture in The Subterraneans.
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Kerouac among the Fellahin: On the Road to the Postmodern
(summary)
In the following essay, Holton explores Kerouac's approach to racial issues in On the Road.
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Trafficking in the Void: Burroughs, Kerouac, and the Consumption of Otherness
(summary)
In the following essay, Eburne analyzes the wider social implications of the Beat generation by examining subversiveness in The Subterraneans and William S. Burroughs's The Naked Lunch.
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‘Telepathic Shock and Meaning Excitement’: Kerouac's Poetics of Intimacy
(summary)
In the following essay, Douglas examines the reactions Kerouac elicited from the readers of his fictional autobiographies.
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A White Man in Love: A Study of Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Jack Kerouac's Maggie Cassidy, The Subterraneans, and Tristessa
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In the following essay, Grace analyzes the significance of race in Kerouac's stories about romantic relationships.
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‘My Virtuous Desert’: Kerouac's Dharma Bums
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In the following essay, Phillips discusses Kerouac's works concerning the natural world, particularly The Dharma Bums.
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Off the Track
(summary)
- Further Reading