ovelist

ovelist, poet, and leader of the self-proclaimed “Beat” movement through the 1950s, Jack Kerouac has remained a household name even after his early demise in 1969. A young Kerouac being fond of sports particularly football found himself looking at a scholarship within a distinct college in which he would later leave without completing his years. Kerouac saw this opportunity with golden stars as he knew his family could never afford to send him to such a prestigious school like Columbia. Although excited for football Kerouac found more joy within the realms of writing and saw this as an opportunity of self-improvement, he was set on writing the “Great American Novel”. He would soon encounter friends such as Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs whom could relate to being a college dropout. These college dropouts would soon influence the culture and politics of America post- World War II. Kerouac is remembered for his brave, bold style of writing which his move to New York at the age of seventeen had assisted. Kerouac often remembers the impact of jazz filling his young ears as he walked the unknown streets at night this feeling is often referred to in his poetry as an “Intangible Joy”. Although Kerouac was that of an intelligent man he had issues socialising as he was honourably discharged from the marines after only 10 days of serving for portraying “strong schizoid trends”. Growing up as an immigrant who was to learn English alone could most defiantly be a reason for him to act in such a way. Poetry was that of a safe home, a place in which he could be himself. Often times a feeling of being alone is seen within Kerouac’s ‘Bowery Blues’.