Much of the psychological struggle which the novel's protagonist, Jack Duluoz, undergoes in the novel reflects Kerouac's own increasing disenchantment with the Buddhist philosophy with which he had previously been fascinated.
Meget af den psykologiske og åndelige kamp, som bogens hovedperson, Jack Duluoz, gennemgår, afspejler Kerouacs egen stigende desillusionering med den buddhistiske filosofi, som han tidligere havde været fascineret af.