Surfing The Interstates: Protagonist’s Character Arc through Book One of The Memoir Trilogy

How does 4,000 miles of hitchhiking in 1973 affect the memoir author?

Andre, the protagonist and narrator of the memoir (seemingly inspired by the road novel On the Road), undergoes a profound character arc across the 16 chapters. Beginning as a restless, introspective 21-year-old fleeing a dysfunctional family and personal traumas, he evolves into a more self-aware seeker of deeper meaning, grappling with loss, connection, and purpose. His journey is marked by physical hitchhiking across America but is fundamentally internal: a quest for emotional resilience, authentic relationships, and a sense of home beyond the road. I’ll detail this arc chapter by chapter, highlighting key traits, conflicts, and growth moments, while grouping them into thematic phases for clarity.

Phase 1: Departure and Initial Restlessness (Chapters 1–4)

At the outset, Andre is portrayed as a disillusioned, impulsive young man burdened by family secrets and a sense of suffocation.

In Chapter 1 (“Thumb Out”), he’s 21, broke, and haunted by his father’s abuse toward his mother and the…