The poem HOWL, by Allen Ginsberg,, is a very unique and entertaining poem to read. Although who the speaker is specifically is not mentioned in the poem, it is safe to assume that the speaker is Allen Ginsberg himself. Even though specific names are not mentioned, readers know many facts about the narrator. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that the speaker has experienced many different people and situations. He mentions that he’s seen the best minds of his generation in poor neighborhood, looking for an angry fix, and being expelled from universities. (page 9) It’s also apparent that the narrator is very familiar with drugs and homosexuality. The drug “Benzedrine” is mentioned more than once. (page 10) He also provocatively touches on homosexuality by mentioning “endless cock and balls” (page 10) and certain homosexual indiscretions with “saintly motorcyclists.” (page 13)
The poem is bluntly written from the perspective of an outsider who is not content with the way society is running. In the section titled “America”, Ginsberg touches on many aspects he does not approve of, such as the atomic bomb. (page 39) He also alludes to the fact that America is beginning to rely too heavily on technology when he comments that America’s machinery is too much for him. (page 39) He also mentions smoking marijuana every chance he gets. (page 40) Another aspect he frequently criticizes is religion. He says that he refuses to say the Lord’s Prayer (page 40) but also encourages the spiritual aspect of religion, leading the readers to assume that he is not critical of all religion, just those of an organized fashion.
It’s evident that the poem is written in blank verse. Ginsberg’s style closely resembles that of Walt Whitman. Ginsberg even mentions Whitman in the poem. In the section entitles “A Supermarket In California,” he claims to of seen Walt Whitman and rhetorically asks him where they are going. (page 29-30) The diction of the poem is very unique. In some sections, certain words are repeated numerous times. For example, in “Footnote to Howl,” Ginsberg repeats the word “holy” almost religiously. He explains that everything from the world to a typewriter is holy. (page 27) This makes readers wonder if everything is apparently holy, does that demean the privilege of being considered holy, ultimately causing nothing to be holy? Questions like the aforementioned one are frequently raised throughout the poem.
Ginsberg’s word choice is also extremely confrontational, something that readers were not used to during the time period of the Beat Generation. Ginsberg talks about drugs, sex, alcohol, and openly criticizes the American government. Many thought the poem was too obscene, leading to the arrest of the publisher, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. In 1957 a judge ruled that the poem was not too obscene and continued to be printed and sold.
Although Allen Ginsberg’s style of writing and topic choice may seem unconventional at first, the poem opened readers’ eyes to the issues concerning society during the 50s and 60s. If Ginsberg had not chosen to write the poem in this fashion, HOWL would not have had the impact that it did.
Works Cited:
"Allen Ginsberg." Poetryarchive.org. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.
