American Literature

Kerouac and Hemmingway consistently deal with topics of value and morality in the dimension of poverty, promiscuity, lack of vision, criminality, luminal life, alcoholism and disregard of societal values of the traditional American society. As they present the decay in the society through conduct, Hemingway dwells on the effects of the World War I on the moral standards of  modern America while Kerouac takes the perspective of improper moral structures that relaxes peoples value on moral standard. On the Road by Kerouac is a riveting account about the new nature of humanity as everybody in the society is morally deceitful and naturally dishonest. On the other hand, The Sun also Rises by Hemmingway demonstrates the futility of life as human being struggles with effects of the post war as they embody the feeling of emptiness and lack of meaning in life.

These two novels narrows down to the question of how morality and value systems are disregarded in the modern society. In light of this, Hemmingway handles his moral and value themes in terms of destruction of sex, aimlessness among members of the society, male insecurity, false friendship and excessive irresponsible drinking. Similarly, Kerouac portrays the American society as having lost of moral value through themes like madness, drug and alcoholic abuse, sexual immorality and criminality.

The Sun also Rises treats the theme of morality through aimlessness in the generation that is lost. Hemmingway uses irony to satirize the follies of the aimlessness that characterizes the modern American society as a result of the World War I. According to Wagner (2005), the traditional concept of morality gave meaning to the men and women of America. However, after the First World War, the concept of morality became lost and human being began wandering aimlessness in the society in what is inarguably a meaningless world. In light of this, aimlessness is a moral question that should be avoided because it leads people to lack focus, lack ambition and lack dream. As a result, men and women in the society operate on absurd angles since their time is spent on inconsequential activities like drinking and engaging in all kinds of wickedness. For example, Jake and his friends in the Sun also Rises lead empty lives because they constantly party and drink to afford some meaning and attain a bit of happiness. Although this is not explicitly physical, Hemmingway was in a way implying that Jake and his friends portray aimlessness through their emotional and mental lives (Hemmingway, 1995).

Similarly, Kerouac addresses morality by exploring dissatisfaction and restlessness that is rooted in the insanity of beat generation. In this case, characters experience the need to move through time and space a concept that originates from dissatisfaction. For instance, as Dean is motivated to move through time, Sal move in line with space (Kerouac, 1957). However, it is plausible to argue that their movement is aimless and that is why they do not find satisfaction wherever and whenever they go. As a result, Dean and Sal finds no true heaven after their traveling comes to an end and it is even more evident that lack of focus and absurd lifestyle is manifested in romantic relationships of characters. They feel more dissatisfied with women a factor which sets them in the mood of a variety of women (Kerouac, 1957).

The Sun also Rises can be seen to resonate the decline in value system of the American society through male insecurity. Hemmingway uses satire to expose the decay system of the society. This is through how the First World War provided way for the reevaluation of what is perceived to be masculine. Before the war, the masculine ideals bordered the precincts of bravery and stoicism which had some relevance in the brutal context of the war. As a consequence, soldiers suffered a great deal as the enemy raided them. In light of this, they became more insecure due to the conceptualization that they depended on luck and not bravery for their survival (Wagner, 2005). The realities of the war therefore undermined the traditional concept of masculinity. For instance, Jakes manhood is undermined as a result of the injuries he sustained on his male organ thus representing the cultural change of the value system. He is burdened b the feeling of being less than a man thereby nursing a strong sense of inadequacy (Hemmingway, 1995). In addition, other veterans in the novel The Sun also Rises feel a great sense of insecurity due to their manhood. Hemmingway underscores this theme by highlighting that the male insecurity become stronger when characters became envious of others (Nigel, 2005). For example, Jake as well as his  friends are unhappy with Cohn and subsequently abuse him because of his engagement in their unmanly behaviors because he follows Brett around (Hemmingway, 1995).Jake, Bill and Mike are unsure of their masculinity and they somehow cope with their fear by attacking  people like Cohn for behaving in the traditional masculine way.

Moreover, Kerouacs On the Road embodies this reversed value system by portraying sadness and insecurity in the world. For instance, Sal understands that the American society makes one constantly sad. In light of this, Sal sees everybody to be sad and as the source of his sadness. Worst of all is that his own dreams resonate the whole aspect of sadness (Kerouac, 1957).According to Swartz (1999), the element of sadness in the lives of the American people is a question of loneliness and failure to embrace societal values of togetherness as well as connecting with those around through warm dialogue. Kerouac closely mirrored what Hemmingway dealt with because sadness in any community is a feature in the relationship of men and women. Arguably, Sadness manifests the understanding of being low in spirits and given that it is more evident in the beat generation, it brings out the element of being defeated in life. A case in point is when Sal yearns for a warm and poignant connection with women (Kerouac, 1957).This explains how he is not sure of his position in the society and views life on a pessimistic angle a factor that manifests itself through sadness.

Another important point is the question of sex and how it is destructive in the modern American society. In the Sun also Rises, Hemmingway presents a clear picture of how the aspect of sex is not only powerful but also very destructive. Accordingly, Nigel (2005) notes that this destructive nature of sex comes out clear in the way characters in this novel expresses strong sexual jealousy. For instance, because of the untamed sexual jealousy, Cohn is forced to violate the principles of value and consequently attack Romero, Jake and Mike (Hemmingway, 1995). In addition, the illicit cravings for sex block Brett from building a healthy relationship with Jake. Primarily, these two examples show that sex weakens the honor that Cohn has as well as the love between Jake and Brett. Moreover, Brett engages in multiple sexual relationships with men and does not want to get serious with any of them. This constantly nags her, makes both Jake miserable and leads Cohn to be violent (Hemmingway, 1995). In this view, Hemmingway clarifies that the contemporary society has given leeway to its members to engage in perverse sexual behaviors with come with daring effects. Arguably, Hemmingway also underscores that with the advent of independence and gender equity, many women are becoming more sexually perverse.

On the same note, Kerouac in On the Road, treats his theme of sexual immorality by exploring inability of the characters in his novel to differentiate between love and sex. The understanding here is that in the American society, moral values have been swept under the carpet thus making Americans to weaken the values of the marriage institution. According to Upton (2003), there is no such a thing like respect for marriage in the novel On the Road because sex overrides every factor that leads to marriage and love. In this case, lust and sexual escapades forms the order of the day and those who engage in these immoral activities claim to be expressing love. For instance, Deans is so lustful that he wants to marry every woman he lusts (Kerouac, 1957). On this premise, Kerouac presents sex without attachment which reduces the spiritual dimension of sex. The fact that Dean lusts after every woman suggests a perverse notion that women are sexual objects to satisfy the sexual desires of men.

Alcoholism and drug abuse is another element of moral decay. In the Sun also Rises, Hemmingway shows all characters being alcoholic therefore symbolizing the rottenness of the society. Almost all the friends of Jake are drunkards because they drink in excess at everywhere they go. Somehow, it is through this excessive drinking that they promote their escapist tendency. Wagner (2005) outlines that it drinking which gives Jake and his friends a sense of purpose and satisfaction. This implies that Hemmingway wanted to underscore on the consequences of excessive drinking because as seen in the Sun also Rises, alcoholism only brings out the worst these characters especially mike. For instance, he turns out to be nasty, intoxicated and violent (Hemmingway, 1995). In light of this, alcoholism in the Sun also Rises disadvantages the mental well being of a person and thus heightening the confusion, sadness and lack of purpose that plagues Jake as well as his friends. This is construed on the premise that drinking helps the characters to avoid the reality in their lives.

On the same note, Kerouac in On the Road shares that alcoholism is a healthy activity if taken in moderation. This is evident in the fact that there are a variety of alcohols and a few characters who abuse alcoholism like Dean and his missing father are the ones who suffer a myriad of problems like poverty. Upton (2003) underlines that alcoholism is a dangerous venture if it takes the priority of food as well as other necessities in the life of a character. The relationship of Sal and Dean is shaped by alcoholism because, they comes a sharp contrast when the two dreams (Kerouac, 1957). Their actions, behaviors and dreams when they are sober become totally different when they are drunk. Alcoholism therefore forms the foundation of madness which is seen to aggravate the question of absurdity and lack of focus in the society.

Another facet of comparison in the morals themes in the two literary pieces lies in the paradigm of false friendship. Hemmingway embodies the element of friendship to be built around deceptive and selfish motives. A number of these friendships are found on no affection. As Jake met the team manager, and they planned to meet the following morning so that they continue with their conversation, Jake skives the meeting on the ground that he will never see the manager again (Hemmingway, 1995). Another dark false friendship is exemplified in Jake and Cohn. With regard to the values of friend, Jake is false to his friend. Although Cohn likes Jake, Jake is false and operates in a mask.  He harbors some hostility to Cohn which increases and more vivid in jakes silent jealousy to Cohn as pertains Brett (Hemmingway, 1995). The inability to build true friendship jeopardizes the social survival of Jake and his friends. It is ironical that Hemmingway that atrocities, jealousy and opportunistic characteristics form an immoral pedestals upon which Hemmingway treats this theme.

In the same vein, Kerouac gives us a glimpse on the nature of friendship based on hero worship. A case in point is Sal who positions Dean on certain class, struggles to equal his friends (Kerouac, 1957).Although Sal and Dean are friends, it is evident that they are uncomfortable with each other especially when Sal thinks that Dean has a low profile. In this case, their friendship suffers but somehow, Dean makes up by building an intellectual friendship with Carlo. This somehow heals his wounded heart because, unlike ah of Sal, it is based on mutual interest (Kerouac, 1957).

However, Hemmingway differs slightly with Kerouac in addressing the moral themes with regard to criminality and spirituality. For example, as Hemmingway portrays that characters loses on morals in terms of failure in communication, Kerouac address the aspect of failed vision of the American dream. In the Sun also Rise, the conversation that Jake and his friends engage in does not mirror honesty. They constantly struggle to hide their feelings all under the cover of civilization.  In addition, it is clear that these friends are tormented by the effects of the war but can not mutually share this in a mutual communication (Hemmingway, 1995).

However, the instance of true communication where the characters speaks their true feeling comes out under the influence of alcohol. For instance, when Mike is drunk, that is the time he can tell Cohn how he detests his presence. According to Wagner (2005), the question of lack of communication does not provide ground for growth in the society. As such, members of the society constantly live in the dark not understanding others and not sharing their feeling which inarguably facilitates the growth of the society I light of social, economic and cultural dimensions. Hemmingway thus suggests that in lie of the traditional value, The Sun also Rises mirrors the concept of lack of unity, individualism, and selfishness all which do not contribute to the well being of the society.

Contrastively, Kerouac addresses this aspect in a different model of lack of vision for the American dream. Sal sees the American society through various lenses which leaves him comparing it with other worlds he regards better like Mexico (Kerouac, 1957).According to Swartz (1999), this gives Sal no chance of constructively and positively thinking of how to build his society. The American dream of a sound economic development thus is shattered by this retrogressive thinking. As a result, the lack of vision is analogous to lack of dream a factor that introduces other vices and immoral activities like criminality, distorted versions of reality and poverty. Policemen become so abusive and power hungry thereby showing that they think little bout these people in their service and the ideals of the society. This nature further fuels criminality witch sees Dean in jail. Moreover, characters think that the only cause of their problems and misfortunes which arguably is a distorted version of reality. All these formulations narrow down to poverty which appears to be everywhere according to the perception of Sal. Lack of vision towards the American dream has left many characters homeless camping on the roadside and depending on the musician to entertain them. Lack of vision also lands Sal in deep poverty because when he travels, he can not purposely manage his money and thus squanders it (Kerouac, 1957). Sal and his friends finally ca not establish any middle ground to earn a living and relies on asking his Aunt for money. All these are a feature and effect of lack of vision for the America dream.

To recap, both Hemmingway and Kerouac deal with moral themes that resonate the traditional notion of value system. Most of their understanding and portray of these themes is similar because they attribute to what is sociological applicable in the contemporary society. Such themes affect the American society in a myriad of ways ranging from lack of vision for the American dram, lack of believe in self, deceptive attitudes and friendship, opportunism, despair and lack of communication. However, there is a slight difference in how they address this themes which is in their style which evidently narrows down to failed vision as in the case of Kerouac as well as failed communication in the case of Hemmingway. The two facets of morality contribute to the unity and strength of the social, economic and cultural institution in the society. Their absence paves way for the manifestation of other vices like individualism, poverty, and criminality and reduces characters to leading luminal lives.