"This used to be a hell of a good country. I can't understand what's gone wrong with it."
I believe this line is a good example of what the road trip meant for Wyatt, Billy, and later George. This line occurs after the three men attempt to eat at a small diner in Louisiana. However, they were met with scorn from the local men who chased them from the diner.
This was what their road trip was about, exploring what was occurring across this country. Along their road to freedom, they find the new social and physical landscape of America and can take those experiences (good or bad) towards their road of freedom. They have changed because their country changed.
Question: Why was the end of the movie so violent?
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I agree that this quote was significant in terms of defining the road trip for the two men. The 60's was a period of immense change and turmoil throughout the nation, and Wyatt and Billy took to the road to seek independence. But along the way they were forced to face the harsh realities of an unaccepting society.
ReplyDeleteI also thought this quote seemed relevant to Steinbeck's road trip journey. Because of his country changing and him not sure of what America's future holds, he takes to the road in hopes of learning more about the personality of America. The idea of realizing the world you once knew is changing can often lead people to take to the road, maybe in hopes of making sense of it all. I thought this was exemplified in Easy Riders and Travels With Charley.
Question: Why do you think Mardi Gras/New Orleans was their destination?