Howl by Allen Ginsberg - Essay Example

? “Howl by Allen Ginsberg” Number] “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg encompasses larger social issues from a diverse perspective and with amplified elaborations. Thus, the name clearly represents the objective of the poet in a nostalgic tone. The poem is a prominent paradigm of free verse style in catalogue technique, which uses diverse rhythmic patterns according to its requirement, in which readers can find ample criticism on the social system prevailed in 1940-50. The poet adapted Walt Whitman’s strategy of long verses, parallelism and extensive use of anaphora. “Howl” is a written discourse of frustration, dejection, loss of identity and dignity, stereotyping prevailed in society and unjust distribution of opportunities. Furthermore; it explores sensitive issues like gay sex, drug usage, insanity, faith issues and politics as its dominant themes. Thus, the name expresses writer’s anger and depicts rightly through his long verse style, in which he does not want to pause and continue his narrative of unjust experiences. Although, perceived as shambolic but the poem is divided into three main sections, in which the poet expresses his anger over the depreciation of the most worthy human potential. Later on, he sheds more light on their identity, life style, qualification, living state in a rigid psyche society. After wards, he reveals the malevolence behind the downfall of these “best of minds” (Ginsberg, line 1); they were American culture, government rules, social perceptions, capitalism and warfare. Finally the third part is dedicated to his friend Carl Solomon (whom he met in a psychiatric hospital), who was a prime example of erroneously perceived “mad”. The liability for the destruction of most potential minds of the state could not solely lie on the government or on society, as the choice of life style is liberally chosen by individuals them self. Since the name implies that the poet refers his discourse as a howl, an animal instinctive cry for madness on some detested phenomenon. Ginsberg howled for the autonomy, reverence and civil rights of the people whom society perceived as unworthy citizens for example, drug-abusers, hipsters, school or college dropouts and instable individuals (psychologically), who have been labelled as outcasts by it or considered as unworthy of intellect. He further proclaims in the years 1940-50, the dominant social and political powers manoeuvred these individuals of their sanity. Thus, these members were left to rot without being taken care by the public administration or the militaristic society. Their true potential was wasted due to fear, pressure of customs and poverty. Thus, they have been rightly exploited and suppression is an emblem of mistreatment by American culture, which would cause more destruction of potential minds in near future. The aforementioned individuals faced different dilemmas in their lives and chose a destructive pathway for them self neither suggested by the society nor forced by government. Thus, the poet cannot solely blame government and society for their indigence position. Throughout, the history many prominent personalities have started their carrier from the scratch, thus, the matter of destiny, aim and preference lies in ones hand. The poet has somehow justified their use of narcotics or marijuana as an escape route from poverty, unavailability of basic resources like warm water for bath and tattered clothes. Moreover, he has complained about the social boundaries prevailed in the later part of twentieth century, like tabooed culture of gay sex, obscenity in art and literature, sexual intercourse in public areas and freedom of expression to students in university and colleges for the sake of sanity. However, social norms are set to distinguish human apart from animal culture, especially in the matters of intercourse. The poet requires a freedom, which is prevailed in the twenty first century and has caused many root problems. For instance the usage of drug has increased and it is affecting the psychological and physical well being of the American youth along with it their increased tendency of being violent for their “perceived rights”. Hence, the use of narcotics is not beneficial in any case; it only puts one into a state of temporary ambiguity, which is also lethal in many cases. Educational institutes stand tall for their knowledge, discipline and capability to produce quality citizens hence, these institutes require to device set of rules which are mandatory for individuals to follow, otherwise; he or she will not be able to learn to adjust and survive in a society. These rebels are often seen as destructive to any culture of the world and to them self as well. Like Ginsberg pointed that they travel aimlessly without any specific destination and are suicidal due to excessive pressure of social norms. Sexual freedom has also caused many problems like detrimental habits of masturbation in isolation, online sex trend, group sex and animals for such gratifications, but most prominently child-abuse, which has caused many psychological disorders to fully develop. This sexual freedom has created a long term health chaos for the American youth, they rather prefer anonymity in their intercourse and avoid being in a real relationship due to freedom from responsibility. Freedom of expression in art has also called for large number of porno websites, which have legitimate value and their increased view has increased violence tactics during intercourse, rape and masturbation, which has a long term injurious effect on the health of youth. “Angle headed Hipsters” (Ginsberg, line 3) are connoted as religious pious beings, who have made several sacrifices for their true cause (change and freedom) and live under poverty due to subjugation of the society. However, these hipsters try to connect to the heaven and God through narcotics, which is an unfeasible point made by the poet. Thus, one can clearly observe that the hipster life style though not popular or liked, but was freely adapted by the poet and his alliance. Neither government nor the society could stop them from making such a spiritual connection through marijuana. The religious personal with whom the poet has referred them with were Prophets, who used their communicational skills and heavenly knowledge to spread across, neither looked for an escape route or a back door. They tolerantly and humbly accepted the repressions and eventually the society respected them. Their actions were pious not lurid; thus, its completely irrational to compare a group of rebellious personals to connote with prophets. However, the jazz culture or the hint towards racism was rightly described as a disparaging social act of that era. The Beat culture appreciated jazz of African American culture and believed in equality, but they did not accumulated their energies to protest for their social rights as they were preoccupied by their own psychological freedom. Consequently, government and society provides a pattern of life style, which people adapt according to their own will and flexibility. Few people protest against such norms and it has been observed throughout the history that they become outcasts as well, as both authority and subjects under rule are unable to understand each other perspective of life. Ginsberg is not entirely wrong about his cry of subjugation, tyranny and abuse, but decorum of any culture provides individuals an identity, heritage and dignity to hold on, otherwise, people would live in an animalistic life style and would not be able to cherish the memories of their ancestors with respect. Works Cited: Ginsberg, Allen. "Howl." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 7 Apr 2013. . Read More