Friday, May 2, 2014

USA

http://www.gradesaver.com/allen-ginsbergs-poetry/study-guide/section3/

According to this Gradesaver summary, the name “Moloch” that is used by Ginsberg repeatedly in part II is meant to represent all that is wrong with America.  The name was apparently chosen because it is the name of an ancient god who required lots of sacrifice.  The name choice, then, is a subtle criticism of the United States by Ginsberg.  However, Ginsberg makes many more criticisms of his country in part II.  To an extent, this is okay.  It was the 1950s, a time in which the Civil Rights situation in the United States was absolutely disgusting.  As a gay man, Ginsberg has especially good reason to be upset about this.  However, he goes overboard in part II.  He criticizes cities, industry, electricity, and banks.  He suggests that capitalism is inherently evil because it is creates poverty.  By criticizing things that have nothing to do with morals or Civil Rights, Ginsberg lets his bitterness become apparent.  He would be better off sticking to the issues he cares most deeply about, which are presumably social ones.  By trying to effect change in all aspects of society, he has hindered his ability to effect change in any aspect of society.  His bitterness towards totally acceptable aspects of American society hurts the chances of success that his more intelligent points could potentially have, because critical readers are able to denounce him as a hater of America based on tenuous evidence whose opinions on the nation cannot be taken seriously.

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