Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl is a three
part free form poem dealing with the unjust and unfair power of
capitalistic government, and the effects it has on people with less
than perfect social standings, specifically during the time of the
beat generation. The first part of the poem deals with various
reasons why Ginsberg and his friend from the beat generation went
metaphorically mad. The second part of the poem, which was written
at a later time, has to deal with the unfair amount of power the
government has, and what it does to people of lower social classes.
And the final part of this poem has to deal with Ginsberg's
relationship with Carl Solomon.
The first part of this poem deals with
various situations why the greatest minds of Ginsberg's generation
“....went mad, starving hysterically naked.” (3) Ranging from
situations dealing with college officials, the government and law
enforcement, all representations of the capitalistic government in
which Ginsberg has such a problem with. Examples range from getting
kicked out of school, drinking turpentine, experimenting with drugs,
and getting caught trying to smuggle drugs, specifically marijuana
into New York. Most of these situations were caused due to the
micromanagement of the law by the Government. I think Ginsberg is
trying to comment on the fact that these things wouldn't happen, or
be such a big deal if the Government did not have such a tight grip
on its citizens.
The second part of the poem Howl
describes various ways the government oppresses unprivileged people
of the community by comparing it the the Semitic word for God or
king, Moloch. In this part of the poem he describes the unfair power
the government holds, stating “Moloch the heavy judger of men.”
Also calling it “the incomprehensible prison!”(11) He says
“Moloch, whose mind is pure machinery!” This is saying that the
government only thinks in numbers and dollars and not truly about the
problems in front of its face, about race or equal rights. The last
stanza deals with people committing suicide because their government
has left them no other option. “They jumped off the roof! To
solitude! Waving! Carrying flowers! Down to the river! Into the
street!” This is someone jumping into the river Styx as they jump
off a roof into the street.
The third and final part of this poem
seems to be directed towards Carl Solomon, specifically dealing with
Ginsberg's time spent with him. Many of the lines are references to
the time they spent together in San Francisco, including the line
“where we are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter.” I
believe he wrote this when something of importance was happening to
Solomon in the town of Rockland. This was Ginsberg's way of
supporting him without being there with him.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYou gave great insight into Part I and II of the readings. (I feel the third part is rather straightforward in, and of, itself.) However, I think you gave one of the basic, most given readings of the poem, which isn't a bad thing. However, could there be a deeper meaning to his poem other than this represents exactly what it says? Such as, in Part I he literally lists the people whom he thinks possesses the best minds of his generation. I kinda feel like this poem, the first part in particular, is kind of a story about himself, in a way. Many of the things he mentioned in the "whos" are things that he has done. I also think that part of the poem is a kind of fear that he hold for the future (say, like, opening up an antique store when there is nothing else left to do.)
I found some interesting interviews regarding Howl in particular. He didn't seem to have much hope for the poem. He actually says that he thought it wouldn't be published. He also states in the same interview that "Moloch is the mind." While I read the poem like this to begin with, the interview did help focus my readings and analysis a bit more.
It never crossed my mind that Moloch could be the government. Every time I've read this poem, I've always thought of Moloch as the capitalistic society in which we live and are doomed to never escape. This got me thinking, if the government is such a heavy influence in the daily lives of the American people, then this means, or at least to Ginsberg, we are all doomed and the only salvation is suicide or possibly a lobotomy.
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