On the Road

Throughout the novel, male characters marginalize women, valuing friendships with each other over their romantic endeavors. Which female character has the most profound influence on the narrative?

Cars are an important symbol of freedom and opportunity. How do the characters express themselves through their interaction with motor vehicles?

Sal encourages Dean to abandon his stable homelife and hit the road. To what extent does Sal feel guilty about his actions?

Dean’s father never appears in the novel, but he has a lasting influence on his son. How does Dean’s memory of his father shape his life? 

Sal and many other characters are writers. How does literature affect their worldview? 

The open road provides freedom to characters who feel trapped. How do America’s roads provide escape from dull, mundane lives? 

Travel trunks contain a person’s belongings when they make a journey. What is the trunk’s symbolic meaning when it is on the road? What is the trunk’s meaning when it is at home?  

The novel’s characters often commit crimes. What does the characters’ lack of respect for the law say about their relationship to society?