Abstract
After the Second World War, the Americans were seriously affected by materialism and consumerism, being blind to human emotions and spiritual freedom. In On the Road, the “Beat Generation” are among the most sensitive ones who first detect the repression and absurdity of the society. When they feel something wrong with the society, they are courageous enough to challenge the traditional systems and try completely new things and attempt to solve problems according to their own will. They rebel against such a state by way of pursuing spiritual freedom and authentic-self. Their calling for adventure, freedom and a new and less materialistic value outlook stimulates Americans to ponder their existing values, and to usher in a range of the meaning of life and alternative lifestyles.
Keywords   the Beat Generation   authentic-self   rebelling   lifestyle

第二次世界大战后，物质主义和消费主义深深影响着美国大众，使他们对人类情感和精神自由视而不见。在”垮掉一代”眼中，传统的文化、道德、价值观己经走到了尽头。他们反对社会不平等，反对物欲横流和工业文明带给人类的异化，力图以一种理想的乌托邦来抗拒弥漫于生活各个领域的权力和统治逻辑。面对肆无忌弹的横流物欲，”垮掉的一代”不愿受到正统生活观念的束缚，选择具有个性的生活方式，追求”真我”和身心的自由，是一种高调的反叛，促使人自我反省，到为什么活着，选择怎样的生活方式，寻求何等人生价值观。
关键词  垮掉的一代    真我     反叛    生活方式

1  Introduction
1.1 Culture background
 The Beat Generation came of age during and after the Second World War. The word “beat” was primarily in use after World War II by jazz musicians and hustlers as a slang term, meaning down and out, or poor and exhausted. After the Second World War, United States has strong national power and flourishing economy. A period of totally new world emerged. However, behind the bustling economy is the stifling social and political atmosphere, the U.S. government has launched domestic political persecution. At the same time, cold war and the McCarthyism are vigorous. Under the extrusion of material wealth, individual feelings were suppressed and ignored. The Americans after the Second World War were just blind to the emotions and their spiritual freedom. They struggled to big houses with beautiful garden, new cars, and plenty of life insurance, which were their ultimate goal of life. Besides, the 1950s was a period of suspicion. In this period of time, anything that was considered to be different was immediately suspected. The whole country was expected to be in a high level of conformity. In the “Red Terror”, many civil servants, university professors, scientists, and academicians were persecuted. Lots of books were burned down. The whole society was thrown into fear and quietness. Under this social background, most people had to accept the current social conventionality, and let their freedom and happiness alone. Thus they sacrificed for the so-called regular life. The psyche of the people individuality was dropped into the unfathomable void. On the present occasion, the Beat Generation started an avant-garde movement to revolt against the union conservatism.