Howl: The Beat Generation's Battle Roar Anti Obedience and Repression

Abstract

In 1955, Allen Ginsberg, a budding poet disillusioned by the prevailing materialism and societal conformity in post-World War II America, constructed his ground-breaking piece "Howl," a watershed moment that catalysed the emergence of the Beat movement. This paper offers a scholarly examination of "Howl," meticulously dissecting its literary merits, structural innovations, and thematic preoccupations. Drawing upon historical and cultural analyses, it probes the socio-political landscape of the 1950s, elucidating the pressures and tensions that propelled Ginsberg and his contemporaries to subvert traditional literary norms. Moreover, this paper scrutinizes the intentions of Ginsberg and the Beat generation, delving into their philosophical underpinnings and artistic aspirations. Through a rigorous academic lens, it explores the multifaceted significance of "Howl" as a manifesto of rebellion, a paean to individuality, and a critique of the status quo. The analysis ultimately emphasizes Ginsberg's enormous contribution to American literature's enduring relevance and depth of thought.