On the Road and the Beat Generation

On The Road and the Beat Generation

Throughout the twentieth century, we have been witness to several movements which have helped to shape the face of American culture. From the beats, to the hippies and the punks of the seventies and eighties, these movements have modified the way we, as Americans, think and behave. “World War II marked a wide dividing line between the old and the new in American society and the nation’s literature” (Zeleny 427). When the war was over the whole nation came to witness the times when nearly every young man was doing things in a similar pattern that included getting a job, starting a family, etc. The American nation was gradually turning into a nation of consumers whose outlook did not reach out too far beyond the scope of their every day routine. This type of life style found it’s fierce opponents in society who initiated the notorious Beat movement. By using various literary techniques, along with non-conformist lifestyles as a basis for th...