Kerouac, the word and the way: prose artist as spiritual quester

Abstract

Jack Kerouac, a priest of according Ben Giamo, embarked on a spiritual quest ultimate meaning of existence suffering, celebration of joy in meantime. For Kerouac, quest was a sustained creative experiment in literary form. Intuitive innovative, Kerouac created prose styles that reflected his search for personal meaning spiritual intensity. These styles varied from an exuberant brand of conventional narrative (On Dharma Bums, and Desolation Angels) to spontaneous bop prosody (Visions of Cody.Doctor Sax, and The Subterraneans). s primary purpose is chronicle clarify Kerouac s various spiritual quests through close examinations of novels. Kerouac began his quest with On Road, which also is Giamo s real starting point. To establish early themes, spiritual struggles, stylistic shifts, however, Giamo begins with first novel, Town Country, and ends with Big Sur, the final turning point in Kerouac s quest.Kerouac was primarily a religious writer bent on testing celebrating profane depths transcendent heights of experience reporting both truly. Baptized buried a Catholic, he was also heavily influenced by Buddhism, especially from 1954 until 1957 when he integrated traditional Eastern belief into several novels. Catholicism remained an essential force in his writing, but his study of Buddhism was serious not solely in service of his literary art. As he wrote Malcolm Cowley in 1954, Since I saw you I took up study of Buddhism for me it s word way I was looking for.Giamo also seeks ITa vital force in experience of living that takes one by surprise, suspending for moment belief in real concrete grey everyday of facts of self selfhood . . . its various meanings, paths, oscillations: from romantic lyricism ragged ecstatic joy of pure being from void-pit of Great World Snake joyous pain of amorous love, and, finally, from Catholic/Buddhist serenity onset of penitential martyrhood.