The Dharma Bums-1-24

The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac
Pg. 7

" Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running--that's the way to live."

This quote is very significant to the story. The idea of living in a way that is one's own is what the story is mainly about. Just living as one with the wilderness and being happy is the essence to Ray's (Jack Kerouac) life. While others try to live the life of others and try to seek a happiness that will not occur in the life of someone elses. Instead of living a suburban lifestyle of materialsm, Ray finds happiness in a way that is different from the similar routines of society.