“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg is packed to the brim with literary significance supported by true statements about the society of the 1950’s. Throughout the entire poem Ginsberg makes these words appear to be gibberish. However if the reader can understand the broader implications of what Ginsberg is trying to get across, then the reader will fully understand. One of the main themes I saw in the text was “Madness” Ginsberg opens up with “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness” (Ginsberg 1) this concept of madness continues on later in the poem. Ginsberg dedicated this poem to Carl Solomon a man Ginsberg met in Columbia Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital. Ginsberg believed people that the public generally sees as mentally ill, considers misunderstood geniuses. Another way Ginsberg could have interpreted madness is drug induced madness. Later in the first section of the poem he states “Peyote solidities of halls, backyard green tree cemetery dawns, wine drunkenness over the rooftops, storefront boroughs of teahead joyride neon blinking traffic light, sun and moon and tree vibrations in the roaring winter dusks of Brooklyn, ashcan rantings and kind king light of mind,” (Ginsberg 1) This can be interpreted in the complete opposite way than before, instead of claiming Solomon as this genius he might be hinting at the fact that he was also a drug fueled addict. I enjoy how Ginsberg leaves it up to the reader to believe what they want.
A literary technique used in Howl is using symbols, imagery and wordplay. Throughout the text Ginsberg uses these signs, imagery and wordplay to attract the reader. “angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night,” (Ginsberg 1) Ginsberg gives these vivid images throughout the text and it is effective for catching the reader’s attention!
Nick – You’re right that there are multiple forms of madness. Some drug-induced (on purpose, in order to embrace an alternate state of mind), some a response to what Ginsberg portrays as almost insane aspects of a capitalist society, some imposed (as when he is institutionalized for being gay).
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