On the Road Essay

â€Å"On the Road† is not merely a tale of adventure. It is a story of a journey of life. As the characters travel back and forth between places, they move from one phase of their life to the next. It is a story of friendship, realization, and growth. The story’s ending highlights the end of a journey for Sal. Furthermore, it shows his metamorphosis as a human and his growth in terms of maturity. Also, the last part of the novel shows how he transformed in term s of how he viewed life and the people around him, most especially Dean. Most important of all, the latter part of the novel shows a much needed transition and change in Sal’s life. As he journeys alone, it serves as a symbol and a metaphor of his growth and independence from Dean. His decision to venture out on his own without calling on Dean to join him is a metaphor. As was seen in the beginning of the novel, Sal was mesmerized with Dean’s outlook of the world. He was at awe with how Dean lived his life. He wanted the same life which was the reason he joined Dean in travelling around the country. However, as the novel came to an end, so did Sal’s enchantment with Dean and the life he was living. His decision to go out on his own is evidence that he changed his view of the world. It showed how he outgrew their old ways and moved on to more important and valuable things in life. No longer was he interested in simple fun and the happy-go-lucky life. He aspired for more significance and meaning. He craved for a more meaningful life. The ending of the novel shows how Sal transformed as an individual. It showed how he moved on to a better life. Sadly, this meant disassociation with Dean and the life he chose to live.