THE CENTRAL MOTIF OF A ROAD IN THE NOVELLA PIC BY J. KEROUAC
THE CENTRAL MOTIF OF A ROAD IN THE NOVELLA PIC BY J. KEROUAC

Summary/Abstract: The novella Pic by Jack Kerouac is the author’s last work which reveals how his characters continue wandering on the roads of life. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the central motif of the road in this novella, which includes both a real geographical space (the characters’ route from the East to the West of the country, where they hope to find their “paradise”), and a symbolic-philosophical space (the search for oneself and one’s place in life, God in oneself, truth, inner maturity, etc.). The guide on the road (Slim) is especially important here. He turns out to be not just a companion, but also a spiritual mentor of the main character (Pic), a new saint, who is eager to spread his religion and share it with others. Thus, the road is not only a way of travelling, but it is a way of learning about life.

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