1950s America was a time of censorship, economic growth, consumption and racism, where the system was benefitting only a privileged few. Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs, amongst others, were revolting against the dictation of their lives that infringed on the freedoms they wished to enjoy,...
What does the word howl mean? It is a long and loud, drawn out cry. Allen Ginsberg’s purpose in the poem “Howl” is to request people to be in opposition to repression, freedom, and capitalism. The speaker sees American society as being of unsound mind,...
The late 50s – early 70s of the 20th century were not easy and turbulent time in the history of the United States. It was the time of radical changes in the society and in people’s perception of the world. In this period the activity...
In “A Supermarket in California,” Allen Ginsberg uses the American supermarket as an extended metaphor for a poet’s mind and experiences. In this supermarket of the mind, the poet can select images and inspirations much as one would search for items on a grocery list....
The role of the outside observer in Allen Ginsberg’s 1956 poem “Howl” is a significant presence in the poem and crucially exemplifies the reason why Ginsberg is so compelled to create this work of literature in their honour. Made-to-order essay as fast as you need...
This essay explores the famous poem written by Allen Ginsberg in 1945-1955 titled Howl, also known as Howl for Carl Solomon, and more specifically how he uses and portrays the theme of religion within this poem. Ginsberg was a Buddhist who studied Eastern religious disciplines,...
Desire in Allen Ginsberg’s Poems “Kaddish” and “Howl” Desire is explored and represented through the form and style in Ginsberg’s poems, “Kaddish”, and “Howl”. Desire is ubiquitous, it is the essence of wanting or yearning for something, or someone, it has limitless objects. The longing...
Generations of readers and critics alike have denigrated the works of Walt Whitman and Allen Ginsberg, both equally brilliant poets, separated by a century, yet sharing a poetic vision of both political and sexual freedom, simply because the language and lifestyle represented in their work...
In interpretations of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” it is common to find the assertion that this wild three-part poem is a diatribe against the evils of capitalism, personified in the poem as the ancient, child-devouring god Moloch. Marjorie Perloff’s essay from The Poem That Changed America:...