Read Part 1, Chapters 1-10
Content Summary for Teachers
Chapters 1-4
On the Road begins by introducing us to its two central characters: Sal Paradise, and Dean Moriarty. Dean, an exuberant and aspiring intellectual, arrives in New York with his new wife, Marylou, after being released from reform school. Eager to learn about writing, Dean befriends Sal and his circle of friends, and a fight with Marylou forces Dean to move in with Sal for a time.
Soon, Dean becomes close to Sal's friend, Carlo Marx, and together they embrace the vibrant life of New York City as they share intellectual pursuits, write, and chase women. Sal finds their intensity and occasional madness intriguing, seeing...