Allen Ginsberg's Howl

The end of World War II brought with it the rise of beatnik poetry. A group of poets interested in the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” aspect of poetry; beatniks were often rebellious in their writing and challenging of the “bourgeoisie” suburban culture that was dominant in post-war America. Of these poets, Allen Ginsberg used poetry to critique what he saw to be deficiencies of post-war America. These deficiencies are illuminated through his poetry in a way that shows how mainstream society sees those who refuse to conform. In “Howl” Ginsberg uses social commentary to speak for those who society had deemed outcasts and does so in the ranting and rebellious way which parallels the people that he is describing. It is often assumed then that the “best minds of his generation” (1) are his beatnik peers and the protagonists of his poem.
The title alludes to madness and animalism which are often traits applied to the beatniks. Like animals, the beatniks were unaccepted by mainstream society, forcing them to be outcasts. The sense of howling can also be seen as a detachment from conformity and the expression of the beatnik counter culture. Overall, the sense of howling suggests the frustration, self-destruction, madness, and energy associated with the generation of suppressed