Big Sur | Characters & Character Analysis

Big Sur Characters

Jack (Duluoz) Kerouac, also Ti Jean

Jack Kerouac is the narrator and protagonist of the story, famed by the beginning of the story as the voice of the Beat Generation. It has been about 15 years since the publication of the books he had written when he was out on the road with Neal Cassidy, Allen Ginsburg and William Burroughs, and his world has devolved into drinking with the kids who love his books and still come around and expect him to be the Kerouac of 20 years ago. His state of mind is frayed from the beginning, and while the escape to Big Sur is intended to be a respite and rejuvenation for him, it is only that for a short while before he succumbs to the temptation to return to what is familiar and resume the weeks-long parties with friends from San Francisco. He describes them all with affection and tenderness,...
(read more)