Carsons Autobiography of Red and Ginsbergs Howl - Essay Example

Comparison of Carson’s ‘Autobiography of Red’ and Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ Carson’s the Autobiography of Red is poetic novel that is rich in Greek mythology as she translates ancient stories in a mix of both essay and poetic form to present a rich text that blends different ideas to portray translated format of Greek myths. The novel has seven distinct sections that represent the sections of Greek nomos or the lyrics performance that Stesichoros was famous for as presented throughout the novel. The novel presents a heroic epic who goes through several trials before he reaches the end of maturity. On the other hand, Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ presents his own reflections and observations of a social political and religious ideologies that present a dilapidated society that is full of violence, immorality, addition to drugs among other vices that are found in the American society as Ginsberg presents them. Generally, Ginsberg presents a society that is in dire situation and leans towards perishing as youths have been either drawn into war fields, in drugs all are wasting their precious brains away after going through universities. In both stories, there is extensive usage of metaphors, symbolism, and a unique style that deviates from the normal in poetry, to best present and stress ideas that the authors portray in their writings. Ginsberg in part two of the poem; line one and two explains that “What sphinx of cement and aluminum bashed open their skulls and ate up / their brains and imagination?” (Solomon, 2009). In this passage, Ginsberg uses metaphor to explain the cruel death that his friend Bill died. The use of aluminum to portray the train and the cement that portrays the rail and its corrugated build presents a picture of how bill was drugged along the rail till he died. This is further affirmed in part one as he narrates of “best mind” that fell “out of the subway window……” (Solomon, 2009). This metaphor presents the characterization of bill as a brilliant young man may be who could have contributed to positive improvements in the society, but ended up ending his life through a cruel way. This metaphor might prepare the audience to evils that Ginsberg presents about Moloch. Moloch in the second part of the poem is presented as a symbolism of evil and degraded place where people are met with all kinds of evil. “Moloch! Solitude! Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks” (Solomon, 2009). This description of Moloch presents the most inhabitable and degrading life that is present in the society, and has no value for life and no happiness can be attributed to this society. The use of young men in war and children screaming under stairways symbolizes neglect, abuse and Ginsberg uses the strongest words as portrayed to present Moloch as the worst case in human occupation. The use of metaphor and symbolism is also rich in Ann’s “Autobiography of the Red, A novel in verse” the use of metaphor is evident in the title as used by Ann. The use of autobiography and novel in the same title presents a case of contradiction that can be said to be a metaphor. In defining the novel, it is expected that a ‘novel’ has to be fictions and an ‘autobiography’ has to represent the reality or the calculated events of one’s life. The effectiveness of this is observed in the beginning of Geryon’s accounts “he began his autobiography. In this work Geryon set down all inside things particularly his own heroism and early death much to the despair of the community. He coolly omitted all outside things” (Carson, 29). Ann therefore uses blurred distinction between the two words to present ideas throughout the novel. The use of italics throughout the novel best presents this blurred distinction. The italics represent the distorted reality that Carson uses to present this blared distinction between ten realities in autobiography and the autofiction in the novel. For example, “Geryon wrote a note full of lies for his mother” (Carson, 46). Through these fake lies, it would be hard to differentiate the reality and the autofiction in Geryon autobiography. The use of myths is also a metaphor that uses the tradition society to present the social and natural phenomena as they are portrayed currently. This is used to present supernatural events or beings as Geryon is portrayed as a monster by Ann. In both writings, there is case of wise usage of language to express ideas more strongly as viewed by the writer. Carson has elaborate way in which she paves way for the conception of words and language. The letter for example is argues to be formidable weapon to rejuvenate his(stories)- “Makes those old stories new, says Suidas” (Carson, 4). The usage of words as seen in Garyon’s usage as he narrates his autobiography, words are in motion in most of Carson’s poem as she narrates, “went bouncing through Geryon” (Carson, 73) and they “leapt”(Carson, 70). The usage of these words expresses the emotions that the author expresses to the audience. The same is found in Ginsberg’s, ‘Howl’. For example, “who lit cigarettes in boxcars boxcars boxcars racketing through snow” (Solomon, 2007). The repetition has been used extensively by Ginsberg to stress particular emotions that actions elicit in him. The same is observed as Ginsberg describes Molloch, where repetition is extensively used to stress the real nature of Moloch or to draw the audience to the serious situation that he tries to describe. In the use of language, Ginsberg portrays the u8age of long sentences that are not usual in poetry, to present several ideas at the same time. Ginsberg avoids the normal way of presenting ideas in poetry to stress on the dire situation that he tries to explain about life as he observes it. The same presentation is portrayed in Ann’s Autobiography of the Red. In the seven chapters that make Ann’s Autobiography of the Red, there are alternating long and short lines that are much similar to the ones presented by Ginsberg. These lines present a case of reconsiderations, afterthoughts and much emphasis of ideas that the two writers present. The main difference between the two is that while Ginsberg uses poetry throughout his presentation, Carson interrupts the flow of the essay and presents cases of poetry in a way that portrays presentation of fragmented pieces about the life of Geryon. For example, Carson (35) presents a poetry that portrays the fragmented perception that Geryon has about his own autobiography. Gluing together these fragmentations of poetry represents a literary technique that presents the fragmented vision of self as Geryon portrays the world and others, all of which are mirrored in the poems and novel by Carson. Largely s observed the Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ and Carson’s ‘Autobiography of the Red’ though presenting different ideas have similar styles and presentations in poetry that have been used to stress the particular sentiments as presented. Though Carson has a mixture of both poetic and novel presentation, the use of metaphor, symbolism and unique styles in presenting ideas is elaborate in both the writings and have been employed to stress the ideas as the authors seek to elicit different emotions from the audience. Work cited Carson, Ann. Autobiography of the Red. Montreal: Knopf, 1999 Solomon, Carl. Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997): Howl. 2009 Sept. http://www.wussu.com/poems/agh.htm 21 Nov. 2011. Read More