The mainstream society is represented through the Uncle Nick described in the beginning. "The Greek reminded me of my Uncle Nick...and wandered down the gray streets...in a gray suit, with a gray hat, gray face going to his various jobs." (Kerouac 145) Gray is a bland color used to symbolize boredom and in this case modesty and conservation. The Uncle represents all mainstream workers whose goals are determined by society's standards. The story gives a taste of what it is like having a dream to live without taking an active part in the workplace of society. This dream of the narrator's is one that many people in the United States fought aga

San Francisco, during the movement of the beat generation in the 50's, was a very prominent place for people of the care-free lifestyle to congregate. The use of color symbols throughout the story showed the majority of the city's meanings to the narrator. The narrator's reference of red and white to the city's buildings and streets really helped bring out the narrator's perspective of he San Francisco. "...and wandering around the white streets of San Francisco, looking at girls." (Kerouac 145) White is a symbol of purity and youthfulness and the author associates San Francisco with white because of his perception that the city is perfect for him and others like himself. The youth with the same aspirations come for a place that they can prosper doing their own thing and still have a good time while doing it. "...the long slow appearance of the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco, so sad, so reddish, so mysterious and Chinese..." (Kerouac 154) Red represents the city's life and exuberance. Red is a symbol of the sun and the life and energy that its puts off. Connecting the sun with the city emphasizes the narrator's passion for San Francisco. He presents the city and even the whole state of California in a way that it's almost holy. The narrator uses palm trees and golden shadows to represent the entire state of California. "The palm trees waved in a cooler wind than Barbara and L.A." (Kerouac 150) The palm trees shown in the southern part of California stand for peace and opportunity by its passiveness and imagery of going with the flow of the wind. The optimistic approach towards California, and the cities in it, is apparent once again. "She balled up the pass in the gathering late afternoon golden shadows of California..." (Kerouac 150) Gold is the color of royalty and its association here shows the respect that the narrator has for the state of California and the people who are connected to it.

inst and tried to oppress during the 1950's.

As the ride progresses through the California coast the goals of the two become more evident through their conversations. It was obvious the conversations were aided by the Benzedrine they took near the beginning of the trip letting them drop their inhibitions and talk about interesting things. Their talks of jazz music and drugs really show the type of people they are. "'Why don't you give me your phone, I'll call you and we'll go down and hear Brue Moore, I hear he's in town.'

As the narrator is looking for a ride on the desolate highway, a colorfully described car stops to pick him up. "...a brand new cinnamon colored Lincoln...flashed by and suddenly swerved to the ri

Some common words found in the essay are:
San Francisco, California Kerouac, Tenor I've, Shmexican Kerouac, Jack Kerouac, Uncle Nickand, LA Kerouac, Chinese Kerouac, American Dream, san francisco, Brue Moore, simple life, beat generation, river bottom, kerouac 150, throughout story, palm trees, society symbolized characters', kerouac 147, life exuberance, red represents, characters' quests identity, identity simple life, symbolized characters' quests, simple life seen,
Approximate Word count = 1794
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)