Character Key
Kerouac often based his fictional characters on friends and family.
"Because of the objections of my early publishers I was not allowed to use the same personae names in each work." —Jack Kerouac| Real-life person | Character name |
|---|---|
| Jack Kerouac | Ray Smith |
| Gary Snyder | Japhy Ryder |
| Allen Ginsberg | Alvah Goldbook |
| Neal Cassady | Cody Pomeray |
| Philip Whalen | Warren Coughlin |
| Locke McCorkle | Sean Monahan |
| John Montgomery | Henry Morley |
| Philip Lamantia | Francis DaPavia |
| Michael McClure | Ike O'Shay |
| Peter Orlovsky | George |
| Kenneth Rexroth | Rheinhold Cacoethes |
| Alan Watts | Arthur Whane |
| Caroline Kerouac | Nin |
| Carolyn Cassady | Evelyn |
| Claude Dalenberg | Bud Diefendorf |
| Natalie Jackson | Rosie Buchanan |
Read more about this topic: The Dharma Bums
Famous quotes containing the words character and/or key:
“Eccentricity: strength of character doubling back on itself.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“You have many choices. You can choose forgiveness over revenge, joy over despair. You can choose action over apathy.... You hold the key to how well you make the emotional adjustment to your divorce and consequently how well your children will adapt.”
—Stephanie Marston (20th century)