The message of On the Road In Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, the author tries to convey to the audience that everyone is naturally dishonest and morally deceptive. Morality is defined by one's religion, the laws of the land, or a combination of the two. A person's identity captures and interprets the individual's morals. My morals follow Christian beliefs, the laws of the state of Texas, and the laws of the United States. While one's morals may change, basic things like theft and murder are wrong and illegal under federal law. Numerous characters have performed many acts proving this point, such as Montana Slim, who says that to get money, he follows a man into an alley and rob him, or Dean, who never feels remorse for hitting Marylou after an argument. These along with other characters show such actions, which prove that everyone is morally deceitful. In Part 1, Chapter 4, Sal tells Montana Slim that he only has enough money to buy some whiskey. Slim tells Sal, "I know where you can get some." "Where?" "Anywhere. You can always fool a man in an alley, right? It takes some dough." (27) At this early point in the novel, Sal is still trying to figure out who he is and what life on the road is like. He seems like a naive young schoolboy being bullied by an older, wiser boy. Slim knows what he's talking about because he's been on the road for some time now. He probably robbed a lot of people during his time on the road. This act is, by law, wrong and dishonest. In Part 2, Chapter 6, while Dean, Marylou, Ed Dunkel, and Sal stop at a gas station on the way to New Orleans, Dunkel casually steals three packs of cigarettes. The way the narrator says it is that he stole them without even trying. He then justifies it by saying that they had just gone out (139). The language used is so "casual", as if stealing is no big deal. Stealing, like robbing, is illegal and morally wrong. The most disturbing part is that Dunkel believes that stealing cigarettes is okay, that it is necessary for survival just like food or water. Stealing food or water to survive may be justified, but not cigarettes. Cigarettes are not part of a necessary diet. While Dean does many things throughout the novel that are dishonest or morally wrong, beating Marylou during a fight reminds me of the most. The way Dean has used and abused the many women who have come in and out of his life is abhorrent. Most parents teach their children that it is not okay for boys to hit girls. However, Dean's mother was never there to teach him this vital life lesson that is very evident. The men in this novel speak and treat women so badly. It's not illegal, per se, to do some of these things, but it is morally wrong to hit a woman, especially to the point of making her black and blue. The relationship between Sal and Terry was good and honest. Sal didn't want Terry to work because he wanted to be the sole "breadwinner". They truly cared for each other and loved each other's company. Sal thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Initially, however, he probably wanted to meet Terry for selfish and sexual reasons. Many times before, Sal (and other male characters) used women for one night stands to be sexually satisfied, why should this woman be different from the others? Sal didn't realize he was getting into a real relationship. He fell in love with her because he wanted to be with someone. She happened to be beautiful, and there, on the bus, when he needed to be with a woman. As good as the outcome was, the initial reason for the chase was wrong. In part 1,.