Wyatt's Pursuit Of Freedom In Easy Rider

The movie "Easy Rider" revolves around two bikers making a trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans, to attend Mardi Gras. The first scene in the film involves the two main characters selling a good amount of cocaine to a man in Rolls Royce. After the drug deal the bikers begin their journey to Mardi Gras, but not before one of them removes his watch and throws it on the ground. I found this indicative of his pursuit of freedom, because time serves only to constrain us. Once on the road you learn that their names are Wyatt and Billy, an obvious reference to Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid who are considered American legends, as well as outlaws. Wyatt rides a chopper with the stars and stripes on the gas tank and on his helmet while sporting the now
Throughout this section, there is a peaceful feeling. The commune was an idea that came to moderate popularity during the 60s especially. This shows the idea in a very positive light. Everyone seems to be getting along, people are having fun, and they're all sharing the workload. There isn't much food left, but the people are working on growing food. Wyatt truly admires the people on the commune and tells Billy that "they'll make it". Wyatt feels comfortable there, as opposed to Billy who begins to freak out when the entire commune is singing "Does you hair hang low?" This scene makes the differences between Wyatt and Billy quite obvious. Wyatt is content to live in the middle of the desert on a commune for the rest of his life. Billy on the other hand can't stand the communal life for more than one
Hanson makes the remark that he can get them out of jail provided that they didn't kill anyone white. This casual racism cannot be used as a barometer of George's beliefs but of the common perceptions of the south at the time.
On the way to New Orleans they stop at a diner. Once inside it becomes blatantly clear that they do not in any way belong there. Between the staring schoolgirls and the good old boys they decide to leave and camp out in the woods. While camping out they are beaten by the good old boys and as a result George is killed. This scene shows the willingness of the locals to use violence to deal with anyone different. The death of George foreshadows things to come.
Wyatt and Billy continue on to New Orleans. Once in New Orleans the religious imagery arrives in torrents. On the entrance to the brothel, the line "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him" is carved. Wyatt and Billy take the prostitutes out on the streets for Mardi Gras, then to a cemetery for an acid