The American Hobo as a Symbol

In Jack Kerouac’s “the Vanishing American Hobo” he discusses the image of himself as a hobo as well as the image of the hobo itself. Kerouac cites his literary efforts as his separation from the true hobos along with the fact that he still had hope for other things beyond simply getting by. Throughout the piece Kerouac paints an idealistic picture of the hobo, bringing in Buddhist poems in addition to the positive wording towards the hobos’ pursuits. For me, Kerouac replaced the abstract concept of the American Dream with a very tangible subject: the hobo. He discusses how the hobo citing many individuals who helped shape America as well as modern society. 

The American Dream is reflected in Kerouac’s hobo through classifying it as “the American Hobo” as well as characterizing the hobo’s journey as his “idealistic lope to freedom” (172-173). Throughout most of Kerouac’s works he discusses the idea of himself searching for the American Dream. This search is reflected in his investigation of the ways of the hobo. For Kerouac, the American Dream as well as true hoboism is just out of reach. Kerouac is too restless to settle down with a white picket fence and wife as well as not hopeless enough to be able to lose himself in travel.

 Along with identifying the hobo with the American Dream, Kerouac also uses language that emphasizes the almost universal language of the hobo such as “universal brother” or “the original hobo dream” (172-173). This inclusive language allows people to feel that hobos have meaning and even a founding myth, and that the hobo is connected to some larger picture or family. Then Kerouac goes onto define the hobo, but not just the American hobo but the universal hobo. On page 178, Kerouac introduces how hobos act in Paris and other places. This additional description serves to help root the idea of the hobo as a universal phenomenon more concretely in the readers’ minds. But Kerouac does still list America as the “motherland of bumdom” (178). This classification of America illustrates Kerouac’s idea of America being the leader in personal freedom as well as the only place that offers a more universal connection instead of people not being able to understand one another. Kerouac also makes a distinction between hobos and bums. This difference for Kerouac is that of pride. Once a hobo loses his pride he becomes a bum. This discrepancy parallels that of the one between searching for the American Dream and simply living.

                There is also a theme of impermanence and destruction in Kerouac’s “the Vanishing American Hobo” when he discusses the deterioration of the American hobo. Kerouac correlates the decline of American freedom and individuality with the downturn of the freedom of the American hobo. Kerouac’s imagery of the police showing up to questions his intentions about camping highlight the suspicion that was occurring in America around this time due to the changing social and political atmosphere.  

                Also, I found it very interesting that on page 182, Kerouac presents the idea of a possibly “healthy way” that is “in good shape” for the American hobo to travel is by hiding and gathering in cemeteries. Cemeteries are associated with death and endings, and for Kerouac the ideal of the American hobo was coming to an end so it is only fitting that they seek refuge in a place built for death.