*On the Road* by Jack Kerouac follows Sal Paradise, the narrator, on his adventures across America circa 1950. Sal's Goal hitting the road was looking for people who possessed characteristics of freedom and individuality to enhance his own personality, but who instead fit the image he was trying to escape: another American following the "typical day in the life ", living with a false sense of what "The American Dream" really is as Sal meets early on a friend, Dean Moriarty, whom Sal greatly admires for his seemingly carefree attitude and sense of adventure. Dean seems to be the perfect traveling companion for Sal, who he wants to be more like. The journey already begins in contradiction with its own goal. Why would a person leave their home and friends to follow someone on the road, going against what individuality and freedom represent? The American dream is what drives Sal to explore different parts of the country, searching for what hasn't yet been discovered (or so they think). Sal's direction is not well thought out and is misguided. The idea of ​​freedom is not what he thinks it means; he doesn't want freedom, he wants a change of pace or environment. The fundamental qualities of Kerouac's idea of ​​individuality begin with the desire to disconnect from conventional life. The person trying to disconnect defines what “conventional” means to them. To Sal, it seemed like he was defining mainstream culture as white and American. He often longs for the opportunity to leave his usual (self-defined) life for another, but this raises the question of whether or not he seeks individuality by becoming a member of another group/race/culture of people. The motivations for Sal's thoughts are correct, but he gives no indication... middle of paper ...... it's a good story. The journey is always what is written, it is what makes the novel worth reading. Adventure is what everyone wants to read about and, for some, experience. Sal was motivated by the pursuit of the American dream. He himself defined what “the dream” was for him and set out in search of it. He traveled the country in search of his dream, falling in love (too often) and visiting the sights of his country. Sal said he wanted freedom and freedom from everyday American life. He wasn't right in what he wanted. Yes, you can't tell someone they're wrong for wanting something, but you have to use the correct noun for a desire. Sal was already given freedom, but he simply aged relative to his surroundings and was not seeking freedom, as evidenced by following his friend Dean, the biggest flaw in his plan..