Beat Generation Ginsberg

During the 1950s to 1960s, a new cultural and literary movement staked its claim on America's national consciousness. The Beat Generation in sheer numbers was never a large movement, but in cultural status and influence, they were more visible than any other contending aesthetics. The years continuing after the Second World War the wholesale reappraisal of conventional structure of society began. During the time the postwar economic boom was taking place, students in universities were beginning to question the excessive materialism of their society. The product of this question was the Beat Generation. Allen Ginsberg, a founding member of the historical movement, like many saw runaway capitalism as destructive to the human spirit and antithetical

In the world of literature and art, the Beats stood in opposition to the clean, almost antiseptic formalism of the early twentieth century Modernists, questioning if "Twenty years is more or less a literary generation,". They fashioned a literature that was more straightforward, bold, and suggestive than previous periods. Jazz, an underground music style was especially evocative for Beat writers, yet threatening and sinister to the establishment. Taboos about public discussion of sexualty were seen as damaging to the the psyche, shameful, and unhealthy. To many, the artistic productions of the Beats transgressed into pornography and therefore merited censorship. So, the Beats Generation’s literature was dismissed as mere provocation - a means to get attention, not serious art. However, time has proven the cultural impact was far from short lived, as the influence of their work continues to be

Moloch is traditionally a term associated with a Middle Eastern god of sacrifice. In modern language, the name is often given derisively to anything that demands a high price or sacrifice. In Ginsberg's poetry, Moloch represents the facets of modern society that demand the high sacrifice of freedom and expression. Moloch is the modern industrial state which exacts low wages for its workers so that others might have more luxury. Moloch is the model nuclear family which sacrifices sexual freedom and pleasure for a sense of normalcy. Moloch is the modern security state, which sacrifices freedom for increased security from outside threats. The Beats believed their rejection of Molochs suppression, kept them educated, aware, rebellious, and most importantly, free. Portrayed as “an inner knowledge there’s no use flaunting on that level, the level of the ‘public’”. It is easy to see that Ginsberg views the government as one of the main problems in society; however, Moloch symbolizes much more than the government. Moloch is inside everyone, even Ginsberg, who says, "Moloch who entered my soul early! Moloch in whom I am a consciousness without a body!” (“Howl” Line 87). Moloch, who devoured children, represents the greed and jealousy devouring society and Ginsberg shows even himself,