What Is The Difference Between The Bell Jar And On The Road

When one thinks of sex the thoughts of love, passion and romance come to mind along with it. However, in The Bell Jar and On the Road this is not the case. Both works display a great deal of sex, but it is just sex-nothing more, just meaningless sex. There is a great detachment from any expressions of love and passion in the stories.
The Bell Jar takes a deep look into the place of sexuality in 1950s American culture. While in this time it is considered a norm for men to have sexual desires and to give into these desires outside of marriage, women are expected to remain virgins until they marry. When they finally do marry, sex is all about having children and building families. It has nothing to do with romance or intimacy. This is seen in
Throughout the reading Dean wants to marry every woman he finds lust with, while Sal only wants to have sex if there is an element of love behind it. Commonly seen in the reading, sex is often displayed as a no strings attached type of behavior. These ideals and lifestyles are seen as the norm for men in this time, but is very unheard of for women to act in such a manner. This double standard is seen in part one when Marylou behaves in the same way as the men. And where’s Marylou?" I asked, and Dean said she’d apparently whored a few dollars together and gone back to Denver - "the whore!" (R part1 chp1 para6). Because Marylou is behaving like the men they call her a whore for her
This becomes evident in the statement, I wanted to go and get Rita again and tell her a lot more things, and really make love to her this time, and calm her fears about men. Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk - real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious. (R part 1 chp10 para11). Sal values friendship over just having sex. Agreed!" I said. Remi ran to tell Lee Ann. I wanted to jump down from a mast and land right in her, but I kept my promise to Remi. I adverted my eyes from her. (R part1 chp11 para76). Although referred to as a whore on many occasions in the text, Sal seems to seek more than just sex from Marylou. It is as if he seeks the companionship from her. One night Marylou disappeared with a nightclub owner. I was waiting for her by appointment in a doorway across the street, at Larkin and Geary, hungry, when she suddenly stepped out of the foyer of the fancy apartment house with her girl friend, the night club owner, and a greasy old man with a roll. Originally she’d just gone in to see her girl friend. I saw what a whore she was. She was afraid to give me the sign, though she saw me in that doorway. She walked on little feet and got in the Cadillac and off