Synopsis
Beat Poetry, contrary to what one would assume, is not about beats. (The word Beat is this context seemingly refers to the term "Beat-nick") The hearth of this movement was NYC, although it took root in San Fransisco.After WWII (1940s), many intellectuals, including poets, began to question things, including traditional literary styles and methods. Henceforward, they became Beat poets, those who battled conformity and adherence to "blind" tradition. Beat poets were, essentially, explorers. Of both philosophy and of perception. Beat poets experimented with different hallucinogenic drugs and Eastern values. (Buddhism and meditation were very common practices of these poets.) The poems were mainly socially conscious, a very powerful message commentary could be expressed in poetry.
Poem Analysis: "Howl" by Carl Solomon (Part II)
In this poem described is an entity known as Moloch, who despite jewish ties, is used to mean an entity or thing that possess power and necessitates sacrifice of not always a specific kind. Solomon immediately gives the reader more definition by telling them that Moloch has taken creativity away from artists. (of all kinds: painters, writers, etc.) The phrase "Inside Moloch" are suggestive of an institution, a system, or a nation which helps define the symbolism of Moloch. Carl Solomon uses the imagery of urbanization such as skyscrapers, concrete, and smokestacks to strengthen his symbolism. The true societal descriptors of Moloch are evident in the following lines: "Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks..", "Moloch whose blood is running money..", "Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone.." Essentially, Moloch is a societal system whose basis is money, factories and labor, and polluting resources. Moloch is our systems of production, government, and economics. Not only this but, Carl also defines him as the perceptions of people in which he also exists. The idea of Moloch's mental embodiment is given: "Lack-love and manless in Moloch", "Moloch in whom I am a consciousness without a body ..." In following lines, it is elaborated that Moloch is also (perhaps more so) the problems with economics, politics, and production. Economics can be blind, Politics is often pointless and dismisses the fact that we're all one race, and Production hurts the environment. Hence, "..skeleton treasuries..blind capitals! demonic industries! spectral nations!....monstrous bombs!..." The restrictions imposed by these systems are so great the speaker only feels free in his dreams while he sleeps. (Restriction is also shown here: "Cocksucker in Moloch..") As the poem intensifies, the speaker feels "the...sensitive bullshit.." is also apart of Moloch. These are things such as religions. (In detail, he most likely refers to the problems of religion rather than religion itself. Just as he refers to societies' problems rather than society itself. Probably, he hates the religious institution which can be less about gods and beliefs.) Overall, Carl Solomon's "Howl" expresses the feeling of the Beat Movement all on its own. It questions society as a whole and says writers are losing creativity due to it. It paints society as chaotic and almost terrifying, and in the last line implied people who serve under Moloch commit suicide, as their only relief. The lines just before this are that of sheer overload, which is perhaps an underlying tone of the Beat movement: The feeling of being lost, of being surrounded by things you've never questioned and then becoming frustrated as you find fault with them. The poem is even more potent now, with the media have long-range weapons with which to conquer; And the people becoming increasingly disinterested in politics. The fact that this poem still bears so much relevance is verification of the validity of the poem's message.
Poem Analysis: Literary Devices
Howl's most potent device is the symbolism of Moloch. Moloch symbolizes the systems we've placed ourselves into, as humans. Moloch is our society, our civilization. Moloch, however, was selected as this symbol for great imagery. Moloch was a Jewish deity, who required sacrifices of children. He is often depicted as stone, with a bull's head and a furnace for a lower body. The furnace has multiple entry covets, so as to accept the sacrifice of children. The effect and influence of Moloch is seen through metaphors: "Crazy in Moloch! Cocksucker in Moloch! Lacklove and manless in Moloch!" It shows that Moloch has the power of complete alteration: people can be completely different under his reign. In example, they may be less sane, more submissive, or without passion and determination. Other metaphors allude to the symbolism of Moloch: "Moloch whose blood is running money", "Moloch whose mind is pure machinery". These serve only to characterize Moloch but their imagery is able to better explain the actual tone and ideas of the poem. Solomon uses metaphor and symbolism because they are very powerful in their statements: Both are able to say that something is THIS or THAT, both are very strong for this reason. The symbolism of Moloch, for instance, was able to unite the problems with civilization which Carl Solomon intensely attacked and described. Through the symbolism, whenever Solomon needed to describe all these problems he was able to address of them at once. The result is the reader recalling or bringing to mind everything described as he describes them. In a larger way this contributes to the mood of being overwhelmed expressed later in the poem.
Beat Poetry, contrary to what one would assume, is not about beats. (The word Beat is this context seemingly refers to the term "Beat-nick") The hearth of this movement was NYC, although it took root in San Fransisco.After WWII (1940s), many intellectuals, including poets, began to question things, including traditional literary styles and methods. Henceforward, they became Beat poets, those who battled conformity and adherence to "blind" tradition. Beat poets were, essentially, explorers. Of both philosophy and of perception. Beat poets experimented with different hallucinogenic drugs and Eastern values. (Buddhism and meditation were very common practices of these poets.) The poems were mainly socially conscious, a very powerful message commentary could be expressed in poetry.
Poem Analysis: "Howl" by Carl Solomon (Part II)
In this poem described is an entity known as Moloch, who despite jewish ties, is used to mean an entity or thing that possess power and necessitates sacrifice of not always a specific kind. Solomon immediately gives the reader more definition by telling them that Moloch has taken creativity away from artists. (of all kinds: painters, writers, etc.) The phrase "Inside Moloch" are suggestive of an institution, a system, or a nation which helps define the symbolism of Moloch. Carl Solomon uses the imagery of urbanization such as skyscrapers, concrete, and smokestacks to strengthen his symbolism. The true societal descriptors of Moloch are evident in the following lines: "Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks..", "Moloch whose blood is running money..", "Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone.." Essentially, Moloch is a societal system whose basis is money, factories and labor, and polluting resources. Moloch is our systems of production, government, and economics. Not only this but, Carl also defines him as the perceptions of people in which he also exists. The idea of Moloch's mental embodiment is given: "Lack-love and manless in Moloch", "Moloch in whom I am a consciousness without a body ..." In following lines, it is elaborated that Moloch is also (perhaps more so) the problems with economics, politics, and production. Economics can be blind, Politics is often pointless and dismisses the fact that we're all one race, and Production hurts the environment. Hence, "..skeleton treasuries..blind capitals! demonic industries! spectral nations!....monstrous bombs!..." The restrictions imposed by these systems are so great the speaker only feels free in his dreams while he sleeps. (Restriction is also shown here: "Cocksucker in Moloch..") As the poem intensifies, the speaker feels "the...sensitive bullshit.." is also apart of Moloch. These are things such as religions. (In detail, he most likely refers to the problems of religion rather than religion itself. Just as he refers to societies' problems rather than society itself. Probably, he hates the religious institution which can be less about gods and beliefs.) Overall, Carl Solomon's "Howl" expresses the feeling of the Beat Movement all on its own. It questions society as a whole and says writers are losing creativity due to it. It paints society as chaotic and almost terrifying, and in the last line implied people who serve under Moloch commit suicide, as their only relief. The lines just before this are that of sheer overload, which is perhaps an underlying tone of the Beat movement: The feeling of being lost, of being surrounded by things you've never questioned and then becoming frustrated as you find fault with them. The poem is even more potent now, with the media have long-range weapons with which to conquer; And the people becoming increasingly disinterested in politics. The fact that this poem still bears so much relevance is verification of the validity of the poem's message.
Poem Analysis: Literary Devices
Howl's most potent device is the symbolism of Moloch. Moloch symbolizes the systems we've placed ourselves into, as humans. Moloch is our society, our civilization. Moloch, however, was selected as this symbol for great imagery. Moloch was a Jewish deity, who required sacrifices of children. He is often depicted as stone, with a bull's head and a furnace for a lower body. The furnace has multiple entry covets, so as to accept the sacrifice of children. The effect and influence of Moloch is seen through metaphors: "Crazy in Moloch! Cocksucker in Moloch! Lacklove and manless in Moloch!" It shows that Moloch has the power of complete alteration: people can be completely different under his reign. In example, they may be less sane, more submissive, or without passion and determination. Other metaphors allude to the symbolism of Moloch: "Moloch whose blood is running money", "Moloch whose mind is pure machinery". These serve only to characterize Moloch but their imagery is able to better explain the actual tone and ideas of the poem. Solomon uses metaphor and symbolism because they are very powerful in their statements: Both are able to say that something is THIS or THAT, both are very strong for this reason. The symbolism of Moloch, for instance, was able to unite the problems with civilization which Carl Solomon intensely attacked and described. Through the symbolism, whenever Solomon needed to describe all these problems he was able to address of them at once. The result is the reader recalling or bringing to mind everything described as he describes them. In a larger way this contributes to the mood of being overwhelmed expressed later in the poem.