Death Quote by Jack Kerouac
““I suddenly look at the fish and feel horrible all over again, that old death scheme is now back only now I'm gonna put my big healthy Anglosaxon teeth into it and wrench away at the mournful flesh of a little living being that only an hour ago was swimming happily in the sea, in fact even Dave thinking this and saying: 'Ah yes that little muzzling mouth was blindly sucking away in the glad waters of life and now look at it, here's where the fittin head's chopped off, you don't have to look, us big drunken sinners are now going to use it for our sacrificial supper[...]””
About This Quote
Source Novel: On the Road, Jack Kerouac, 1957
The narrator confronts the cruelty of killing a fish, reflecting on guilt and the violent instincts of humanity.
In simple terms: Killing a fish makes the narrator feel terrible and aware of his own brutality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question violent impulses.
Themes
guilt
violence
human nature
morality
Mood
conflicted
dark
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- fishing
- food preparation
- moral reflection
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
ethical dilemma
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the narrator justify the act?
- What does this reveal about human cruelty?
A Different Perspective
The vivid description may glorify violence, obscuring empathy for the creature.
