Jack Kerouac's - "The Mexican Girl"
https://smartsite.ucdavis.edu/access/content/group/1f97d453-b926-41a2-90d5-2a5b313063de/Course%20Readings/Kerouac%20The%20Mexican%20Girl.pdf
Burn Notice Trailer
"The Mexican Girl" tells the story about a guy named Sal who meets
a beautiful Mexican girl in California. After meeting the Mexican girl, they
both decide to go back to Sal's home in New York and thus results in an (presuming
one of his many) adventure. Burn Notice is about a spy named Michael
that is suddenly "burned" and therefore is relieved of all his duties
as a spy for unknown reasons. The US Government dumps Michael in Miami and
leaves him with nothing but questions asking "why" and no source of
income.
At first, the thought of
comparing a young, carefree wanderer with a world-class spy was silly, until I
noticed a strikingly obvious similarity between the two. Sal from "The
Mexican Girl" and Michael from Burn Notice were both on a journey
that involved a final destination or truth of some sort. The destination being
New York for Sal and finding out the truth to why he was "burned" in
Michael's case. During the journeys, both Sal and Michael encounter different
types of people and try to fuse themselves into their world.
Sal decided to go with
Terry to her family's town so that they could make some money and get a bus to
New York. There he meets Terry's brother Freddy and friend Ponzo and immediately
started to try to be one of them. The first day that he met Freddy and Ponzo he
went around drinking with them from bar to bar and then tried to talk and shout
like them. Along with drinking their beer, Sal also eats their food. He goes
out into the fields and does farm-work to earn money to feed his
"family". Just like all the other Mexicans, he makes just enough to
buy food and water. All these things show the process of Sal trying to become
one of the Mexicans.
After Michael was dumped in
Miami, he becomes sort of a private-spy and started to help random people that
would come to him with problems. For example, in "Blind Spot", Michael
helps a woman that is robbed of all her life savings by a con artist that poses
as if he loved her. In another episode called "Guilty as Charged",
Michael helps a lawyer who approaches him with the task of rescuing his
daughter from some of his pissed-off clients. When these people enter into
Michael's life, he tryst to engage himself into their lives and makes their
problems his own. When the lawyer came to him for help with his kidnapped
daughter, Michael goes to the lawyer's office and shows him that he cares for
his daughter's safety and will help him.
In addition to adapting to
a new world, both Sal and Michael are similar in the sense that they both never
lose focus on their ultimate goal despite being sidetracked. All throughout
"The Mexican Girl", it was noticeable that Sal kept referencing to
the amount of money he had and whether or not it would be enough to get him to
New York. His goal to get to New York was in the back of his mind throughout
the whole entire story. Similarly, Michael never forgets that his main goal is
to find out why he was "burned". He is continuously looking for
evidence to why he was "burned" even though he is busy helping other
people.
Another major similarity
between the two characters is that both characters are able to casually walk
away from the people they were associated with. At the end of his time in
California, Sal secretly got money from his aunt and decided to go back to New
York alone. When he was leaving, he told Terry he would see her in New York
even though he knew she was probably not going to come. Just like that he left
Terry behind and was on his way to another adventure. Just like Sal, Michael
simply walks away from the people he helps when he's finished. He tells them to
take care and leaves them to do whatever they do.
When put under a similar
situation like meeting and engaging with new people, Sal and Michael react
quite similarly. It is funny considering one person is a free-spirited
adventurer and the other is a dangerous spy. Both of them met with the people
and tried to engage in their world and then parted ways. Two very different
characters and two similar situations.
This is a unique and interesting comparison, but I think you did a good job defending it. I have not seen Burn Notice, but "The Mexican Girl" can be compared to almost anything about some sort of journey. I thought it was interesting how you pointed out that both Sal and Michael care about the people they meet and how they help them out any way they could, but also could leave them behind when they left to continue their original journeys. It seems contradictory that they could be close with the people they meet, but also can casually walk away like they don't care about them. I think this reinforces your point about them staying focused on their goals even though they get sidetracked by the people they meet along the way.
ReplyDeleteI loved this comparison you made about Sal and Michael! Like you mentioned, both these characters have a lot in common because though they interact with various characters, they never forget their ultimate goals. This is evident in Burn Notice because even though some episodes seem completely irrelevant to figuring out why Michael was burned,intermittently, the show introduces mystery people/organizations to remind the audience that Michael is still devoted to finding an answer. I completely agree that Michael and Sal react similarly when engaging with new people. At the same time, I felt that Michael has more of a connection between his friends than does Sal. In "The Mexican Girl," after Sal decides to leave for New York, his story with Terry comes to a conclusion. On the contrary, though Michael does leave his friends through the seasons to continue his "journey", he always ends up returning to them. Nonetheless, both of these characters are very similar and intriguing because you can't help but wonder what will happen after they reach their final destination.
ReplyDeleteAt first I wasn't sure what Burn Notice and "The Mexican Girl" had in common but once you explained it, I could see it clearly! It is true that when Sal meets new people, he instantly has to care and provide for them. I'm assuming the same thing applies for Michael. I found it very interesting how you came across this series. I have never heard of it until now. These two characters are polar opposites but they still hold similar objectives. Also, the destination at the end of their journeys seem to hold an importance too. It's a good comparison! Even though there are 'obstacles' in which holds off their journey, they still have it in their mind to get there even if it means forgetting the people that they helped or cared for.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent comparison.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the show Burn Notice, however I find your opinion between the
characters really hits the mark. As an audience member, I sometimes feel frustrated
knowing the fact that characters such as Michael encounter so many people throughout
the series; yet none of them leave much of an impression.
For example, the television series House will have a really awesome (or at least I think they're awesome)guest appearance from some actor/actress and it will be a great one or two
episodes, but then they leave the show forever with some witty remark from Dr. House
concluding the episode.
Because of your comparison, I am able to more adequately pinpoint a few of the reasons why
I didn't enjoy "The Mexican Girl". I notice now that indeed, I feel frustrated with Sal
because his interaction with Teresa was short-lived and seemingly insignificant.
My favorite comparison between Sal and Michael is the example that they simply walk away from other people because in reality, we cannot simply walk away. I think it is interesting how they are significant to someone one day and then it is like they never existed before.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that when I started reading this, it was strange to compare Sal to a spy. People usually see spy as an intelligent, cunning, and dangerous person, but Sal is a free-spirited to an extent. However, as I kept reading, I understood their similarities. They are both on a mission: Michael to learn truth and Sal to get money and to return to New York. However, in the end, both of have the same type of action: becoming an important figure for someone and then disappearing from their lives. Overall, I think the comparison was interesting because at first I thought a spy and Sal cannot have similarities, but after reading your commentary, they are alike in so many ways.
I actually like the connection that both Sal and Michael are two characters who go in the lives of people and try to help and then leaves. This gives a very Western feel like as if the hero saves the town and then leaves into the sunset. Although they don't save the "town" they do make a difference in the characters lives by trying to help them.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've never watched "Burn Notice" I can see why you chose Michael because of how he tries to be the hero and once he is done with his work he moves on in his life searching for the main truth, like Sal.
I understand the connection you made between Sal and Michael; it makes sense. Even though both Sal and Michael are experiencing many different events, they are always working towards that one goal in the back of their minds. Both interacted with people, but they could each walk away without a second glance back. Some of the interactions seemed to be of significance, such as Michael rescuing the lawyer's daughter from the upset clients because the daughter would probably remember such an event. However, Michael can just walk out and get on with his life. Terry's child seemed to be at a young impressionable age and he will probably remember Sal, yet Sal just left.
ReplyDeleteIt somewhat does bug me because both were able to just leave, just walk away and on with their lives. The interactions with people they meet along their journey seem to be at least of some importance; they seem to care for the other people, yet they just walk away. It seems that the other people are just minor characters in their journey.
This does happen, but it seems that for them it is so easy. Normally I would think something like that would be much harder to walk away and say goodbye.
You pointed out that even though they cared about the people the were helping they never got to attached to them. If Michael or Sal would get attached to the people they helped they would not be able to leave them as easily as you described. Which says that they didn't care for the people that much, they were just nice to them because they were nice people. Michael in the Burn Notice cared for the people he saved because he needed to find then or save them, otherwise he would not get paid.
ReplyDeleteIn the "Mexican Girl" i think Sal was really wealthy and he was used to getting what he wanted and he wanted to take an adventure, explore other people life style. When he saw a pretty girl it was a new adventure for him that he could go on and explore. The constant counting of money in the back of his head meant that his adventure only will last till all his money run out. i think he knew from the beginning that he will have to leave the girl and go to New York without her.
Although I have never seen Burn Notice, the comparison between a carefree adventurer like Sal and a "world-class spy" such as Michael was fun to read. After reading your analysis, the similarities between both characters are very evident. I was very interested in your two claims of how both characters immerse themselves in the lives/ worlds of the people they encounter, and their constant focus to achieve their ultimate goal. Sal, at one point in the story, states that he is Mexican as he describes his experience with Terry. Like you said, he becomes engulfed into her world, going to her hometown; while Michael becomes temporarily immersed into the lives of the people he helps. This comparison is great! Both understand that people will come and go in their journey to their ultimate goal, demonstrating a sort of experience. In addition, the two characters never losing focus on their goal provides really good support for how Sal and Michael are similar. I definitely can see a clear connection between the two as they both return to their original plans, Sal to go to New York and Michael to find out why he got "burned." I now want to go check out Burn Notice and I hope to see more similarities between the two characters as I watch the show.
ReplyDeleteI never watched the movie and after watching the trailer, I could only find very few similarities between the spy and Sal. My biggest observation were that they both seemed to be single guys just wandering around the country with few responsibilities. Overall they had a relatively carefree life. However after I read your blog, I see how you made the connection. It is very hard for some people to walk away from things or people that they care about, and these two characters keep the focus of their goals on a daily basis. I really want to watch this movie now! Hopefully I can watch it after the first wave of midterms are over.
ReplyDelete