The Long Drive
Those seeking an answer to their life questions head West because it is a place to escape the old money and power of the south, to find a land that is so different from the east, and one that has a slightly rebellious feel; it is not even getting to California that is important. Jack explains that it is the journey that counts when heading West, "for meaning is never in the event but in the motion through the event"(378). When he drives West he is given the unique opportunity to just think, there is a destination, but it is not the most significant part of the trip. Additionally, the scenery is quite conducive to thinking and finding oneself. Jack, in driving West, has distanced himself from the past and can therefore take a more objective look at his memories, "For it is the motion which is important. And I was moving. I was moving West at seventy-five miles an hour, through a blur of million-dollar landscape and heroic history, and I was moving back through time into my memory" (378). When his world was turned on its side, thanks to the reveal of Anne's romantic interests, he feels numb, or wooden as he puts it. To remedy this, he goes West as so many others have. Contrary to the West, the south represents the old world of wealth and corruption, while the West is exactly the opposite, a new start for many Americans. Jack comes back and while the trip west has given him insight that makes him feel separate from everyone else, it has not completely cleared his mind of everything that has happened; "And so I had come home to the place where everything was fine. Everything was fine just the way it had been before I had left, except that now I knew the secret. And my secret knowledge cut me off," (439). In his journey West and back, he discovers that his home will never change, but that he must and has. The West offers the quiet rebellion that Jack needs after being Willie's right-hand man for so long. Differing from his periods of great sleep, rather than giving up, Jack reevaluates and continues on with life. While, Jack is not one to directly confront another, he does need an outlet for his confusion and frustration with the direction his life has taken. Heading West gives him a change, a much needed one away from the politics of home, especially Willie and his relationships.
As mentioned, Jack journeys West in search of a new start. After his relationship with Anne goes down hill, he is in desperate need for a break. And not just a break from Anne, from everything. Although it is known that everyone heads West when they are looking for a fresh start, I agree with the fact that the most important part of Jack's journey was the memories that invaded his mind. He says it "was like a showing of a family movie", recalling the time he and Anne were young and clueless about the future. Back when Jack was just falling in love. "I was, for a moment, bemused by that thought. That I was in love" (386). Jack doesn't exactly have the best past, but bringing up these old memories have helped on his search to start over. All of this thinking certainly helped in defining himself. Jack is a very quiet and refined person, this trip West is his way of venting. And of course, a great awakening. "...I had discovered the dream...I felt that I had discovered the secret source of all strength and all endurance. That dream solves all problems" (434).
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