Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Dharma Bums, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Enlightenment and Nature
Counterculture and Freedom
Friendship
Literature and Authenticity
Inclusion, Exclusion, and Community
Summary
Analysis
Ray, Japhy, and Henry head up into the scree valley that’s covered in loose rocks. For the rest of their climb, they only take the essentials: food and their first-aid kit. Although they make a late start, Henry is strong and steady, and Japhy runs ahead of them wearing nothing but a jockstrap. Ray starts out at the back, but eventually catches up to Japhy. They have incredible views of the surrounding peaks, but the steep drop-offs totally frighten him. He still feels like he’s somehow done this here before. At the foot of Mount Matterhorn, the men swim in a beautiful mountain lake. They debate whether they can make it to the top of the mountain and back down again before nightfall, and Ray and Japhy decide to try.
The next section of the men’s climb is more difficult and also more beautiful than the segments they trekked before. Japhy is comfortable enough to hike almost naked, which he seems to consider a more pure, natural, and authentic way to experience nature. Ray, however, is still anxious about the climb and afraid of falling off the mountain. This implies that he still needs to learn to manage his expectations and fears in nature, whereas Japhy has already mastered his own.
Themes
Ray and Japhy leave Henry down below, and they try to ascend as fast as possible, running over loose scree rocks and looking out on what seems like the entirety of California below. In the gusty wind, Ray starts to regret his decision and wish that he had stayed at the lake with Henry. Every time they get tired, Japhy and Ray snack on some peanuts and raisins and then start up again. The summit is close, but Ray starts to feel like he’s not making any progress; he thinks that Japhy is too far out ahead.
Henry again stays behind, leaving Ray and Japhy alone for the more serious, challenging portion of the climb. In fact, this part of the climb is increasingly becoming a metaphor for Ray’s engagement with Buddhism. As his fear and anxiety start to get the best of him, Ray feels lost and contemplates giving up. But by looking ahead and following in Japhy’s footsteps, he manages to keep moving toward his goal. This is true of his Buddhist practices as well as the actual hike.
Themes
Ray starts screaming, “This is too high!” and worrying that he won’t survive. He waits briefly on a ledge to contemplate the suffering of existence and the Zen Buddhist aphorism “When you get to the top of a mountain, keep climbing,” which horrifies him in this context. Japhy yodels at him from the top of the mountain, but Ray is still too afraid. He jealously looks down at Henry, who is lying down in the valley, chewing on some grass, and daydreaming.
When Ray panics, Buddhism helps him center himself and calm back down. But in turn, his panic also helps him better understand Buddhism—the aphorism he remembers means that there’s always more suffering in the world and more work to be done to free ourselves from it. When he looks up at Japhy and down at Henry, this is a metaphor for his choice between Buddhist wisdom and blissful ignorance. Buddhist wisdom (Japhy on the mountain) will elevate Ray’s consciousness but expose him to harsh and unforgiving realities. Meanwhile, blissful ignorance (Henry daydreaming by the lake) accomplishes nothing but avoids the struggles associated with reaching wisdom.
Themes
