“Howl” and the Beat Generation

Allen Ginsberg is usually accredited as being one of the most influential and notable writers of the Beat Generation. The Beat generation began within a group of poets straying from the current societal norms in the 1950s. The term “beat” was supposedly first used by Jack Kerouac to describe the movement, typically meaning beatific or upbeat. Often times the writers of the Beat Generation would read their work with jazz music being played in the background, further emphasizing the on beat quality of their poetry or prose. Writers of the Beat generation were often inspired by earlier American figures such as Walt Whitman for his structure and content (particularly for Kerouac and Ginsberg) is Whitman’s search for enlightenment.

In Allen Ginsberg “Howl”, he writes “Dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix, angel headed hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night” (3-6)

Ginsburg uses his language to convey a message about the best minds of his generation and how they are suffering in the world perhaps because of a lack of spirituality. Maybe it is because they cannot find a place in society where they belong. Beat writing was more taboo compared to societal norms during the 50’s. They wrote about things like their drug trips, sexual escapades, midnight joy rides, or what they wanted to see change in society. It broke the barrier of literacy expectations compared to writers prior to the Beats. Ferlinghetti also shows these characteristics in his poem I am waiting. The comparison I drew from both Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti poems was that the direction of society was headed in the wrong direction because of underlying societal issues like capitalism and poverty. Although each authors message might seem raw and terrifying each to me seem to be searching for a sense of freedom and wonder for the natural world. In regards to the poem Howl, I came up with a few questions that I felt could spark discussion.

• What is unique about Ginsberg’s style and form of the poem Howl?
• How does the popular culture Ginsberg experienced in the 50’s reflect in his writings?
• Who is Moloch and what does it represent?