Ch. 11-12

I agree with Adam's interpretation of Sal's name and I also agree that it goes hand in hand with paradise. Salvation is commonly depicted as paradise so I think Sal's name is suitable in this book, which brings me to the next point. In response to Ariel's question, I think that Sal is trying to find a new life, something close to perfect or salvation. It is evident when he goes from place to place. However, he tires of an area very soon after he arrives, such as Denver and San Francisco. Sal's initial excitement towards Denver and San Francisco expresses his feelings of hope for a place of salvation, but when he goes there he slowly realizes it isn't working out and he finds himself in utter despair. His attempt to fit in doesn't work well either, such as the job he takes up as a cop in San Francisco. Therefore, Sal is in a state of confusion on what to do next. He states, "Here I was at the end of America, no more land, and now there was nowhere to go but back," implying that he had reached the end, but did not achieve his goal.