I read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and after reading about Neal Cassady for almost a full week, I could think of only one person to relate Neal to: Tyler Durden.

 

The best place to start comparing the two is in their childhood. Like Neal, Tyler didn't have much of a father. According to Tyler his dad left when he was a kid to go a make a new family somewhere else. Neal's father was an alcoholic and Neal was forced to live most of his life on the streets. Both Tyler and Neal apparently had a rough childhood.

 

The personality of Tyler and Neal are nearly indistinguishable. The two are portrayed as being free spirits. Neither of them care for creature comforts and would rather wander from town to town than settle down. Both are major womanizers. Neal would start several families around the country and then disappear. Tyler's relationship with Marla Singer can hardly be described as anything but sexual. This is all that Neal and Tyler seem to want out of women: sex.

 

Both Neal and Tyler start to gather an almost cult following among people that are unfamiliar with their way of thinking. Neal, who is the embodiment of the Western Spirit, takes New York by storm and gathers a group of intellectuals who are intrigued by his free spirit. Tyler, of course, forms Fight Club and people are drawn to it wanting to be more like Tyler.

 

Both people also have a downfall. The difference here is that Neal's fall is gradual while Tyler's is instantaneous. Neal falls into a life of drugs and loses his luster among people who see fit to ignore him rather than worship him. Tyler falls when Jack realizes that he is in control of himself and "kills" Tyler.

 

I read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, and I could think of only one person to relate Jack to: Jack. What a coincidence that they have the same name. For the sake of your sanity I will refer to Fight Club's Jack by using one of his alias'. Fight Club Jack will be referred to as Cornelius from this point forward.

 

Jack and Cornelius are both followers. Jack is attracted to Neal's way of thinking just as Cornelius is attracted to Tyler's way of thinking. The two form an ideal self out of both of their leaders (Neal and Tyler). In the end Jack and Cornelius will turn their backs on the person they once wanted to be like because they realize that they are better off without them.  

 

A connection between Jack and Cornelius can also be seen when reading the Dharma Bums. In this book Jack is attempting to leave behind a life of material possessions and lead a life of simplicity. However, he cannot leave behind the lifestyle of partying and city life. Cornelius also cannot get over his life of material possessions. With the help of Tyler he gets rid of his material possessions, but he is still unable to put aside his yearning to have control over that which cannot be controlled: his life.

 

In the end Jack turns his back on Neal because he sees what Neal has become and does not want that for himself. Cornelius kills Tyler after realizing that Tyler and him are polar opposites and that Tyler is not looking out for Cornelius' best interests.