A Different Road
I "Straight Story" Alvin is on a different kind of road than the others we have seen thus far. The biggest difference about this road is that it is a completely rural road. It being a rural road makes it a very different environment. But the road itself is not what makes the environment different, it is the people and their attitudes that make this road different. The people are not automatically set against Alvin or his quest, often they seem to admire his tenacity. They do not try to hinder him or put him down, instead they try to help him in what ways they can, like offering him a ride. Even those who have their own purposes in mind, like the Olson twins, do not treat him maliciously or disrespectfully. These people and this road do not have prejudices towards Alvin and see no reason to hold him back and this makes it a very different journey from the others we have seen. He does not have to struggle so much with the external forces beyond trying to keep his lawnmower running and is free to concentrate on his internal journey and in some ways enjoy the scenery. He is also not ignore. When the bikers all ride by they wave and people always seem to notice him. In this way he is not on the fringes of society and life so much as just another feature of the world that is there. He is alone but not because he is forced too, it is his choice to be alone. This is a very different situation than the others we have seen because the others are forced into their journey or their isolation by other people or society in general. Alvin's road allows him more choice than the others'.