First 500 words

           Greg Anderson wrote, “Focus on the journey, not the destination. The joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” The journey versus the destination is a common topic in both literature, as well as everyday thought. Most people cannot decide which they believe to be more important, and it could also depend on the circumstances. Robert M. Pirsig expresses this idea in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The view on the satisfaction of the journey versus the destination arises in multiple characters in the novel. It is a defining characteristic of their personality and leads to other thoughts and actions.

            Pirsig shows that a definition of a person is highly based on their beliefs. John and Sylvia, a couple who travels with the narrator and his son across the country, have the sole purpose of getting to their destination. This destination happens to be where technology is not attained, and they can reach a peace of mind. They could care less about traveling there, and stopping at different cities on their way. This is shown through the emotions expressed by the narrator while they are on their journey. Due to the novel written in first-person, the reader does not experience the thought process of the couple. There are only some conversations, and the commentary the narrator provides to help define John and Sylvia. The couple is also presented as a unit, with the same thoughts and opinions. The reader is aware that the narrator takes the journey to have philosophical conversations and find himself. The commentary that the narrator touches upon gives the reader the impression that John and Sylvia are the complete opposite of the narrator. For example, the narrator describes how John and Sylvia would rather have a mechanic fix their motorcycle, while the narrator would like to fix it himself. This gives the narrator a sense of unity with his bike and the way in which he could travel the country with it. John and Sylvia believe someone else could do it so that they do not have to involve themselves with technology. The narrator describes this as a romantic versus classical difference, and further explains the differences and action between the couple and himself. They do not care about unity with their motorcycle, as long as they could enjoy their time when they arrive at their destination.

            Another distinguishing factor between the narrator and John and Sylvia, which helps define their personality, as well as the narrator’s, is the feelings that they have when they arrive at the destination. John and Sylvia were very content. They commented on the view and got along well with everyone they had met. They felt at peace with nature, something that could not be achieved where they lived. The narrator, on the other hand, felt a void, as if something were missing. He was continuing to attempt to find himself and could not understand why he was not happy that he had arrived. Little did he know that it was not his destination, and after nine days the narrator and the couple split ways.