Close Reading and Research: Howl by Ginsberg

This essay provides a close reading and research on the poem Howl by Ginsberg, exploring the relation between the individual and the American nation and shedding light on the author's new perspective on the world.

Close Reading and Research
essay on Howl by Ginsberg

Table of Contents
Overview......................................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

Overview
The current essay is based upon the Howl by Ginsberg. Present essay will shed a light on
the relation between the Individual and the American nation and in the poem of Ginsberg, author
also provide new look and opinion to the world which is discussed in an essay.
MAIN BODY
In the poem written by Ginsberg, where author present the dark and positive side of
American’s people and also present challenges face by the government. Such that author present
their views that he has given America everything but now he has nothing which reflect the sign
of depression and hopelessness. He is telling so because he feels pain for the economic situation
which has fallen America. That is why, he feels that America has taken everything and in return
has nothing given only leaved him a penniless. Author also says that America has taken on the
image of living person in the mind of Ginsberg, but he also argues with the sentence as well.
Though the poem, he tries to justify the action of country in his mind, but his action seems that
rivalry continues (Wilcox, 2018). That is why, in the next line of his poem, says that nobody is
perfect and therefore, every individual has a sarcastic note in this line. He also refers that heaven
as a next world for people and many people wants to go there in order to free from the earth
burden. At that time, Ginsberg state that there is a need to settle down the disputes on earth,
instead of leaving them or escape through death.
At that time, author also leave an impression that America is defendant itself, while
reader is in a court room and that is why, America has to be judged like a criminal and has to
answer of all wrong doings. Wrong doing refers to the unrestrained capitalism, racism,
industrialization, war, greed that destroy the promise given by the nation to their citizens. During
this, Ginsberg also present the pros of America in detail and state that he did not wants to portray
the false picture which shows only positive side of country but want to realize that it also taken
away from its citizens at the time of war and also promise to repay in full but unfortunately it not
happen (Silk, 2017). In this time, author says that now I am nothing which shows the mental
pain. So, to let people realize about the situation, only a writer present the entire scenario to
people and take a lead, rather than sit idly to watch great country will disappear in front of his
eyes. Thus, this situation, drove him to address the people who are standing in street and at his

“Howl” which creates waves of panic in government. The notion behind the scene is to let
people know about the false promises made by country and now he is not able to fulfill the same.
It is clear that poem has rose from nowhere, but it definitely burst upon the people in the
same way as Volcano burst upon any city, which help to open the eyes and mind of people and
Ginsberg also appeal to all the American people to stand and take action against the wrong deeds
by America. The author main motive is not to blame solely on the government of America as
well as the people but he blame himself, for being a part of mass and did not do anything. He
also said that people have to care for their country but it does not mean that they also support the
government in wrong things. In the same way, his motive is only let people realize about their
responsibility and take a stand for their own, as he also cares for America and also wants
America to improve (Raskin, 2004). He also says that thee harsh criticism of America can never
doubt on his Patriotism, but is want to realize that blind obedience lead an entire country towards
wrong path which he did not wants. That is why, he present the pure relationship between
individual and America nation because only Americans shows the right path. Such that anger of
people only state their true affection for his nation but they have to protest for their own good
which Ginsberg do.
He also present different themes in order to let people know what America do for their
people such that Racism. It is a strongest subject and Ginsberg also present the dark side of
America where people face lots of challenges in USA because of the pigments of their skin. That
is why, he refer to the backward class of America i.e. Native Americans and African Americans,
who are not respected by other societies. That is why, through this Howl, he wants to present the
true image of America and remove the problem of racism. On the other side, to provide better
view, Ginsberg also present the example of many wars in which he state that how the countries
support other country in order to win the war, in the same way, people should stand for their own
and take initiatives or action when the government does anything wrong, as a result, it will affect
the entire living condition of the people in opposite manner (Iglesias Rivas, Allen Ginsberg’s
2018). So, this controversial poem provide a new look and opinion to the Americans and it also
force people to read and come to know the dark side of America as well. So that Americans will
inspired and start thinking for their own.

Moreover, Ginsberg also state that America also inspired people and countries in in their
past times because the country has a good wealth and it has the ability to make grand promises
but most of which never kept. That is why, author discovered that the promise were false and
also realize people that this was not the country which he had hoped to save him, but it would
definitely drive him and others into its grave in very easy manner. So it is clearly reflect that in it
Howl, his main focus is to let people know that they are key partners of country because it only
allows the full development of individual’s talent and whenever citizens find something wrong
then they have a right to take action against it (Ginsberg and McClatchy, 2004). So that it will
help to let people know about the dark side of the country which Allan Ginsberg shows through
their writing. So this writing provides deeply thought- provoking and also gives a new way of
thinking for their country as well.
Thus, the poem written by Allan Ginsberg shows a proper connection in personal lives
and personal beliefs with the country because it develop variety of themes that clearly shows that
domination by government did not allow for individual thinking and it cannot be turned the
people into puppets, but it can totally controlled to powerful forces only. Under this, Ginsberg is
not satisfied with the government of US because it is not a way to handle people, even it also
mishandling the external politics. That is why, this poem is written in order to open the eyes of
reader so that they can see damage done by the America internally.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Wilcox, S.E.P., 2018. How Queer Came to Be: Deconstructing White Queerness in Melville's"
Bartleby," Ginsberg's Howl, and Morrison's A Mercy.
Raskin, J., 2004. American scream: Allen Ginsberg's Howl and the making of the Beat
Generation. Univ of California Press.
Iglesias Rivas, S., Allen Ginsberg’s. 2018. " Howl": a literary and cultural analysis.
Ginsberg, A. and McClatchy, J.D., 2004. Allen Ginsberg. Random House Audio.
Silk, M., 2017. Sporting spectacle, 9/11 and the reconstitution of the American nation. In Sport
and National Identities (pp. 192-208). Routledge.