Howl

The Beat Generation describes a group of writers who gained popularity in the 1950s for their style of writing which caused quite a controversy in America. Allen Ginsberg and his work, especially Howl, is considered an excellent example of the what the Beat Generation stood for. The poem exemplifies the movement’s central focus: drug use, sexuality and homosexuality, and rejection of American values at the time.

In an article written in the New York Times, a friend of Ginsberg’s remarks: “Allen was a great person with worldwide influence. He was a pioneer of openness and a lifelong model of candor. He stood for freedom of expression and for coming out of all the closets long before others did.” Ginsberg is open about his views of America in day when writing: “who lounged hungry and lonesome through Houston seeking, jazz or sex or soup”. As seen in the poem Howl, Ginsberg speaks openly and frankly her about homelessness and sexuality. Drug use in another topic prominent in his work: “who burned cigarette holes in their arms protesting the narcotic tobacco haze of Capitalism”. He says what is on his mind, allowing the reader to understand his thought process. He says things as they are and does not make things seem better than in reality; this appears to be one of the reasons his work was so influential to the beat generation. It was a movement to recognize the wrong and attempt to prove that something could be done about the injustice, especially seen in the homeless and the government.

Ginsberg did not accept “typical” conservatice American values of the time and his writings encourage others to reject the expected norm as well; his libral gives can be seen throughout his writing. In the second section of Howl, his grievances with American society become evident: “Moloch the incomprehensible prison! Moloch the crossbone soulless jailhouse and Congress of sorrows! Moloch whose buildings are judgment! Moloch the vast stone of war! Moloch the stunned governments!” The article from the New York Times shows how he took action like the words of his poetry: “Mr. Ginsberg was also in the vanguard of the political protest movements they [Flower Children years] helped spawn. He marched against the war in Vietnam, the C.I.A. and the Shah of Iran, among other causes”. Ginsberg was an activist, looking to change what the Beat Generation stood for and end: “Robot apartments! invisible suburbs! skeleton treasuries! blind capitals! demonic industries! spectral nations! invincible mad houses! granite cocks! monstrous bombs!” The Beat Generation seems to appeal to the individual and the need for individualism in our society. It is apparent that Ginsberg felt judged and pressured to fit a specific mold, which is the fuel for Howl as drug use, sexuality, government practices are all under his scrutiny.

Howl by Allan Ginsberg was an influential text in for the Beat Generation expressing views of disgust with American society at the time. He took a stand against drug use, sexuality, and governmental practices not only in his writing but his actions as well. He had courage to point out the wrongs of society in a time when many felt too oppressed to do the same. Howl serves as an influence to those wanting to change what they feel is wrong.

This is my blog for Major Figures in American Lit spring09!