"Howl" is a long poem written by Allen Ginsberg and first published in 1956. The poem is considered a seminal work of the Beat Generation, a literary movement that emerged in the 1950s and was characterized by a rejection of traditional societal norms and a focus on individual freedom and expression.
The poem is written in an intense and highly emotive style, and its language is often graphic and explicit. It deals with themes of desire, longing, and alienation, and it is also a powerful social critique, denouncing the conformity and materialism of American society during the 1950s. The poem's central image is that of a "best mind" being destroyed by society, and the poem is a howl of protest against the forces that Ginsberg believed were stifling creativity and individuality.
The poem was considered controversial when it was first published, and it was the subject of an obscenity trial in 1957. The trial brought national attention to the poem and helped to establish Ginsberg as one of the leading voices of the Beat Generation.
Howl has since become one of the most widely read and influential poems of the 20th century, and it is considered a landmark work of modern poetry. It's considered as one of the most important works of the Beat Generation and it's often studied in literature and poetry classes. The poem's powerful language, emotive style and its ability to convey the sense of alienation and disaffection of the time, have made it a classic of modern poetry.
Comments