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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
Readers may feel that On the Road contains many contradictory tones. Sal's traveling, partying, extraversion, and spiritedness give the novel a carefree tone, bolstered by the main characters' cheerful disregard for consequences. But a sense of loss or unfulfillment pervades the same scenes that might, at first glance, seem enthusiastically youthful. It's not clear why Sal and Dean must travel, and even they have a sense that they are searching for, or running from, something. The characters' struggles, even and especially those they bring upon themselves, sometimes seem impossible to surmount. The joyful chaos can turn frantic quickly, and Sal himself seems unsure of what he does, whether he's trying to hold down a job and remain in one place or follow Dean across the country.
The descriptions of poverty, drug use, and unethical behavior can make the tone darker. But Sal rarely judges those around him, nor does he take it for granted that anyone's life is sad or inferior. Through the character of Sal and his honest and direct account of the Beat lifestyle, Kerouac presents the outskirts of society without pity or scorn. The reader may notice a truthful, or even confessional, tone, as well as a documentary one: after all, part of Kerouac's aim seems to be to capture a way of life that others may not know about, or may have preconceived notions about. Because of his lack of moral or ethical editorializing, Kerouac effectively leaves the reader to decide whether a moment is light or grim, horrific or hilarious. When Kerouac does take on a strong tone, it's often either immense joy about his friends and surroundings, or sorrow for things lost.
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