Sexual Liberation in the Beat Generation: An Analysis from the Selected Novels of Jack Kerouac

Sumaeta Marjan¹

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.7 , Issue.6 , pp.89-94, Jun-2021

Online published on Jun 30, 2021

Copyright © Sumaeta Marjan . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

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Abstract :
This paper is a presentation of the sexual dynamics of the Beat Generation in light of the two novels On the Road (1957) and The Dharma Bums(1958).Both the novels were written by Jack Kerouac, the most prominent writer of the Beat Generation. The Beat Generation is very much highlighted because of their hippie culture and explicit manner of expressing sexual desires. Also, the Beat Generation explores homosexuality, polygamy, extramarital affair, etc. in the most lucrative way. The liberation that is mentioned dented the explicitness of the writers about the notions and their practices. The novel On the Road explores homosexuality, polygamy, one night stands, pedophilia, etc. and The Dharma Bums express group sex and correlation of Buddhism and sexuality. Thus, both the novels are upfront notions of sexual liberations of the Beat Generation which are elaborately discussed in the paper through close textual analysis of the novels and qualitative research procedure.

Key-Words / Index Term :
Beat Generation, sexual, liberation, homosexuality

References :
[1] J. Kerouac, “On the Road,” Penguin, UK, pp. 1-293, 1957.
[2] J. Kerouac, “The Dharma Bums,” Penguin, UK, pp. 1-187, 1958.
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[11] O`Brien, Barbara. “What Buddhism Teaches About Sex”, Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/sex-and-buddhism-449730.2020