Self and Other Howl Close Reading Paper

Each and every one of us is born into a structural world full of rules and regulations that we often fail to question. Our own existence relies on our obedience, our submissiveness to follow without doubting its validity or challenging it. Howl by Allen Ginsberg combats conformity, the underdogs, the people overlooked in a society hellbent on “perfectionism” a concept made by us yet unrealistic to obtain. Ginsberg carries all connecting themes of isolation, alienation, loneliness, and conformism. Where the greatest minds are the ones living outside the box, whose whole existence is in discordance with the general world. It speaks of a corrupt symptom, corrupt laws and government, full of judgment and realism. It connects to the concept of “self” being the you who isn’t perceived by anyone but yourself which is hindered by the “other” being society who is in disapproval to who you are independently. Ginsberg’s use of words and tone adequately enhances the themes in relation to being a reject through his experiences of being one himself.  

Throughout the poem Ginsberg expresses an inkling of alienation highlighting its importance throughout the poem as a recurring theme. Alienation plays a vital role in the dictation of how society views an individual that doesn’t fit into any of its criterias or conforms to its close minded narrative of a member in society. “Who cut their wrists three times successively unsuccessfully, gave up and were forced to open antique stores where they thought they were growing old and cried,” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 55). This just touches upon life being alienating and a disservice to those in pain who seek a quick end to their suffering. It proves how alienating it was for suicidal individuals, who attempted to cut their own life short but failed. These individuals must incorporate back into society with no choice of their own and only met with criticism and judgment. People with mental illnesses in the 50s were treated horrid and it wasn’t the treatments alone that were inhumane to them.  “Who burned cigarette holes in their arms protesting the narcotic tobacco haze of Capitalism,” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 31). Smoking was glorified in the 50s and Ginsberg wasn’t adverse to the reality of it, the well constructed empires meant to feed off addiction. It’s the irony in that statement though, how society implements it for their benefit and yet shun people out who partake in it too much. Which creates a clear line between addicts and “redeemable” members of society, alienating people more than ever.

There was a clearly drawn line between society and the people they continuously reject. Ginsberg being a part of the people who were shunned put emphasis on the theme of isolation. “I’m with you in Rockland where you scream in a straightjacket that you’re losing the game of the actual pingpong of the abyss (Ginsberg, section 3, lines 21-23). This section of the poem was written for Ginsberg’s friend, Carl Solomon, who he met at a psychiatric center. Mental illness patients were the most isolated people of society just for their illnesses alone as well as the practices used on them. Ginsberg describes here a method of confinement where they wrap you up so you can’t use your arms. It describes Sololmon losing the fight, growing weak against the restraints he’s trying to break free of. It must be invalidating to be told your illness makes you different from the rest, to doubt your existence must alienate you to the point of isolation. “I’m with you in Rockland where we are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter” (Ginsberg, section 3, lines 11-12). The comparison between friends indicates that the greatest minds of this generation generally face the same struggles, struggles that derive from society. They are these great writers living the same dissatisfied lives, writing about the same things yet living the same repeated life they wish to abandon. It’s fighting for the same thing yet seeing no results, combating the alienation and isolation yet continuously wallowing in it. The greatest minds think alike because they can sympathize with each other unlike society. 

Ginsberg leaves many underlying hints throughout the poem, a theme easily deciphered from this is the theme of desertion and loneliness. Being an outcast in society has got to be the most diserting feeling, being abandoned by people you’ve been taught to seek their acceptance and forever long and live with the need of it. “Who lounged hungry and lonesome through Houston seeking jazz or sex or soup” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 28). Every act mentioned in that line is an act of escapism, a way to momentarily feel that fictitious warmth that people who are outcasts can’t find in people. Sex and soup can be both comforting in the way of how you feel when you’re eating soup or sharing intimacy with another person, it can be alievating to ones loneliness. “Who broke down crying in white gymnasiums naked and trembling before the machinery of other skeletons,” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 33). This description of the place insinuates a medical institution from Ginsberg’s previous hints of it and his disapproval of the methods used for mental illnesses. Being forced to undertake such procedures aside from them being excruciating is so painfully lonely. You are left to be dealt with and at peoples disposal and I could imagine it being like a death sentence. Ginsberg imploring that people would tremble before the machinery of other skeletons, it could be what was used to perform those treatments. Which is haunted by thousands of deaths and it’s the only thing you can think of while looking at it—an inevitable doom.

The categories of “self” and “other” refers to the idea of the individual being the “self” and in this case the “other” being society. The “other” pertains itself with morality and its own social constructs and its expectations for what they deem suitable members of society. People sought to be their truest “self” while the “other” tried hard to oppress them, to force them to conform to the status quo. Ginsberg portrays this inner turmoil of fighting to have freedom, to detach themselves from the norm while society punishes them the farther they breach.“Who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and screamed with joy,” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 36). The acts of homosexuality were condemend in the 50s, the individuality to have such differing sexual persuits at the time rebels against the “other” while enforcing who they are outside of society. The erasure of the established romantic relationships when expressing your sexuality freely allows another perception of yourself not often seen by society but endorsed by your own self. “Who bit detectives in the neck and shrieked with delight in police cars for committing no crime but their own wild cooking pederasty and intoxication” (Ginsberg, section 1, line 34). They are seen as outsiders for going against the law and government, for rebelling against the abuse of power they would be deemed as not belonging for not conforming. The irony in the crime is that they did it to get caught, they enjoy the repercussions, they are protesting against the law with their indifference to getting arrested. Ginsberg shows peoples “self” the part of someone society has not seen, the part of you that only you can perceive as you venture away from the common group. Society detests individuality and being yourself and society as an “other” tries to detain your rebellion against them which is one with who you actually are.

Howl by Allen Ginsberg portrays the existence of an outsider feeling so out of body in the world he was dealt with, the themes circulating it elaborate on it. Ginsberg’s poem is so prevalent because it’s still so relevant to the world we live in now, of course we’ve grown to be more progessive thinking but prejudice is still very much alive. This poem was meant to make us question, to make us see both sides of all things and how everything is more than surface level deep. We live in a flawed society where flaws are deemed as dishonorable when it’s human nature to be flawed and “perfection” is a societal made concept that ceases to exist. It’s so important to be aware, to be conscious of lies made into reality just because we’ve grown comfortable with everything but the truth. Ginsberg wanted to give importance to our valuable mindful freedom, how despite our lack of power in places that matter we will always have our minds to take control of. Knowledge is power and if you choose to stay neglectful and ignorant you might as well be a submissive slave to the system but you’re not because freedom will always exist as long as your mind is free from deception.