The road in literature, from the 900s to the present day
So stories about the road teach us that the journey is as important as the destination.
La roadhas always been a source of inspiration for writers from all over the world. Symbol of adventure, change, growth and challenge, is often represented as a physical path that also reflects the inner path of the characters who pass through it. Throughout the 900th century and up to the present day, the road has continued to be a central element in many literary works, telling stories of journeys in search of oneself and one's place in the world. So let's explore some of these famous works, which tell us about distant places, curious characters and different worlds. Because the road is also this...
The road in literature, in the works of four authors
1. On the Road, Jack Kerouac (1957)
“Just follow the road and sooner or later you'll go around the world. It can't end up anywhere else, can it?”
When we talk about the road in literature we cannot fail to mention 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac, a true manifesto of beat generation. Written in a spontaneous and unique style, “On the Road” chronicles the adventures of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty as they travel across the United States in search of experiences, meaning in life and themselves. The road in this novel becomes a symbol of freedom, of rebellion against social conventions and in search of an authentic life. Kerouac captures the energy and frenzy of the street, taking the reader on an emotional and turbulent journey through post-war America.
2. The Road, Cormac McCarthy (2006)
"On this road there is not a blessed soul alive. Everyone disappeared except me and took the world with them. Question: What is the difference between what will never be and what has never been?"
The book is definitely 'another path' compared to the one described by Kerouac "The street” by Cormac McCarthy takes us into a post-apocalyptic world desolate. The road in this novel is a place of danger and desperation, where a father and son try to survive in a world in ruins – but also a symbol of hope, the place where they seek a better future. McCarthy uses the street as a backdrop to explore the human resilience in the face of catastrophe and the strength of the bond between father and son.
3. A fortune teller told me, Tiziano Terzani (1995)
"Being away made me feel at home. "
Leaving the world of fiction, it is worth mentioning “A fortune teller told me” by Tiziano Terzani: a fascinating account of a epic journey. In 1976, a Chinese fortune teller warned Terzani that in 1993 he would run a grave risk of death if he were to take a plane. Terzani decides to accept this prophecy as an opportunity to look at the world with new eyes and undertakes a amazing trip through Asia without ever taking a plane. The road here becomes the path through which Terzani explores culture, meets extraordinary people and questions the meaning of life and death.
4. Wild, Cheryl Strayed (2012)
"Perhaps by being in the midst of uncontaminated nature I too could be uncontaminated, regardless of what I had lost or had been taken from me, regardless of the reprehensible things I had done to others or to myself, or that others had done to me. "
In "It,” Cheryl Strayed gives us a heartfelt and touching account of hers autobiographical journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, a trail over 4.000 kilometers long through the western wilderness of the United States. The road in this book is a means of dealing with pain and loss, a journey of discovery and rebirth. Cheryl walks through barren deserts and towering mountains, but also through memories of her past and the challenges of her life. The road becomes a symbol of rebirth and hope, a path to healing, after a dark moment of self-destruction and pain.
