Big Sur Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Summary

At the beginning of the final chapter, Kerouac has left the porch in search of a quiet place, but finds reasons to believe that every place he finds is evil or dangerous in some way. He returns to the porch and is convinced that they are all actually dead, and that everything is dead and brings death. When they all finally wake up, they have their slow breakfast, and then decide that rather than burn or pack out all their garbage, they should bury it. Billie digs a hole that looks exactly like a grave, not only to Kerouac but to everyone in the group, including Elliott for whose dimensions it is perfectly suited. Jack finally goes over the deep end, screaming about why it has to look like a grave, and why Elliott is screaming.

Finally, he goes to a chair to rest for a...
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