Social Pressures Reflected in Ginsbergs Howl Essay

Social Pressures Reflected in Ginsbergs Howl Post World War II America produced a number of images that will be forever imprinted on the minds of Americans. Such images as television shows like Leave It To Beaver and I Love Lucy, movies such as An Affair To Remember, and Brigadoon, are watched frequently even in todays society. But in this world of fairytale movies and the American Dream, what about those who didnt fit into the picture of perfection and prosperity? These men became the basis of an underground network of dissident writers, teachers, artists and filmmakers. Often a reaction against the strict standards of normalcy held by the American public and the bureaucracy of the government, their work not only†¦show more content†¦Such is the same in Howl. Ginsberg does not spare the innocent reader. When one analyzes the social power of Ginsbergs statements, one can come easily to the conclusion that society was not exactly welcoming to Ginsberg, and he reacted to that through his writing, especially in Howl. The second portion of Howl is commonly considered by critics to be the most complicated for the average mind to comprehend. In this section, nearly every thing is described as a Moloch. Moloch, in mythology was a God to whom children were sacrificed. Now, the term is commonly used to describe anything responsible for destroying innocence. In Part II, Ginsberg describes nearly everything about American culture to be a Moloch. Even societys viewpoints are Molochs. In a way, Ginsberg is calling America itself a Moloch, and then continuing to describe parts of the whole. Moloch whose mind is pure machinery! Moloch whose blood is running money! Moloch whose fingers are ten armies! Moloch whose breast is a cannibal dynamo! Moloch whose ear is a smoking tomb! (Ginsberg 21) America is evil to Ginsberg because of the feelings of hatred and repulsion the society builds in him. The third section of Howl is a striking contrast to the other two parts.Show MoreRelatedConfessionalist Characteristics Of Allen Ginsberg And The Beat Generation1540 Words   |  7 Pagesauthors and works from the Beat movement incorporate various Confessionalist characteristics. Allen Ginsberg, one such author, combined both Confessionalism and Beat poetry in a variety of his works, including Howl and Kaddish. The Confessionalist aspects of Allen Ginsberg and his works, such as Howl, were heavily outweighed by the Beat aspects in his work. The Beat poetry movement began in the 1950s due to the tense political climate and heavily conformative society. During this time, America was a policing