The introduction gives a brief description of On The Road and Sartrean existentialism and also shows the purpose as well as the significance of this research.

Besides Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis consists of two chapters. 

Chapter One gives a summary of the previous study of the theme of On The Road，explains main ideas of Sartrean existentialism, presents how it is penetrated in the analysis of the theme of the novel and proves that On The Road can be read from this perspective.,

Chapter Two can be pided into two parts. Part one depicts the absurdity of the world and scrutinizes the anguish of existence caused by alienation. Part two discusses the third principle of Sartrean philosophy——“free choice”. It consists of two parts: Escape from the inauthentic existence which lies in social conformity and political repression; Searching for transcendence by means of returning to nature，high sensory experience and taking responsibility for their choices.

Through the above study, the thesis draws the conclusion that the existential heroes are thrown into the absurd existence and confront anguish, in which they can only employ “freedom of choice” to escape from inauthentic existence and search for authentic existence through returning to nature，high sensory experience and taking responsibility for their choices.

Key words: Sartrean Existentialism; On The Road; Anguish; Free choice; Transcendence

Contents

1.Introduction 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Significance 1

1.3 Framework 1

2. Theoretical Basis 2

2.1Previous study of the theme of On The Road 2

2.2Basic views of Sartrean Existentialism 4

3. The Analysis of the Theme from the Perspective of Existentialism 6

3.1 The background of the theme: The World is Absurd and Man is anguish of Alienation 6

3.1.1 The world is absurd 6

3.1.2 Man is anguish of Alienation 8

3.2 The analysis of the Theme: Escape and Search 9

3.2.1 Escape from the inauthentic existence 9

3.2.1.1An escape from the conformity 10

3.2.1.2An escape from political repression 10

3.2.2 Search authentic existence 11

3.2.2.1The road of searching for natural Transcendence 12

3.2.2.2The road of searching for high sensory experience—Another way to transcendence 13

3.2.2.3The road of taking responsibility 15

4.CONCLUSION 17

5.Notes 18

6.References 20

1.Introduction

1.1 Background 

On The Road is a novel written by American writer Jack Kerouac, telling a cross-country story of the narrator Sal Paradise (one of Kerouac's alter-egos) and his friends’ several journeys across America and into Mexico based on the travels of them. It is considered as a defining work of the postwar Beat generations, with its protagonists living life with jazz, sex, and drug use.

On The Road has been a classic ever since its publication, and thus makes Kerouac become the "King of the Beats" and spokesperson for the Beat Generation. Reviewing On The Road for the New York Times, Gilbert Millstein praises the publication of the book as "a historic occasion.”