Ginsberg – A Study of Howl
A Brief Look at the Second and Third Parts of his Apocalyptic Poem
Part II of Howl is an accusation of Moloch. This second section is focused on one particular image, that of Moloch. The long lines of the first section are now broken down into shorter ones due to the punctuation of exclamation marks. These shorter lines place greater emphasis on each thing that is said.
Moloch as America
Moloch was a deity of the Canaanites who devoured the young. In this poem Moloch symbolises the problems of society. Moloch is America, and as Eisenhower put it the "military-industrial complex". He stands for materialism, and the desire for property, possession and power, "Moloch whose love is oil and stone!"
Ginsberg then writes "Moloch whose name is the Mind!" Ginsberg was heavily influenced by Blake and this line is particularly resonant of Blake and his mind forged manacles. Here we see the idea that our oppression and the source of the misery is perhaps rooted within ourselves.
"Moloch who entered my soul early" suggests a life-long domination of the mind, and that it is something that we grow up with. "Who frightened me out of my natural ecstasy" can mean being frightened out of individuality, but also, for Ginsberg personally, by forcing him to repress his homosexuality.
Love and Madness
Part III shows a gesture of individual love. Amongst all the horror there is the beginning of an answer and a resolution; that if you can affirm love for just one human being then that is a start. This part is directed to Carl Solomon and every line begins "I’m with you in Rockland".
"I’m with you in Rockland where you’re madder than I am!" Ginsberg spent some time in a mental institute with Solomon, but it was not Rockland. However the particular institute does not really matter considering so many of their literary circle were viewed as being mad, and were institutionalised so many times that it becomes meaningless. Madness in this line is viewed as a positive thing, Ginsberg approves of Solomon's rejection of the norm.
An Unused Potential
"Where you will split the heavens of Long Island and resurrect your living human Jesus from the superhuman tomb". Long Island is referenced here as the epitome of American ideals. This typical American imagery is put alongside the view of everything being divine. The "superhuman tomb" conquers the typical state of being human, through being awake of a potential that is never used; the coming out of the tomb. This potential is shown as always being suppressed by our civilisation.
Ginsberg uses the image of the "catatonic piano" to emphasise the inability to express individual views. A piano should be able to make a sound but instead is silenced, as Solomon is unable to persuade the "armed madhouse" that the soul is "innocent and immortal".
The final line "In my dreams you walk dripping from a sea journey on the highway across America in tears to the door of my cottage in the Western night" shows spirituality and friendship. Ginsberg is with Solomon in spirit while he wanders down long empty highways, experiencing the hardships of life until he gets to his cottage. It shows America as being depressing and oppressing rather than liberating and free.
America
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