Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti write about reality. Their experiences with the emergence of urbanization and progression of industry influenced their "realist" perspectives. Both poets focus on the political and social influences of the time period. The language and tone are extremely strong and explicit; appealing to the middle and lower class individuals.
Ginsberg's language and tone is extremely explicit. He gains the attention of the reader by forcing reality and truth into the minds of the readers. By stating that "The Russia wants to eat us alive"; the poet succeeds in validating the American public's perception of fear that surrounds the political conflicts dealing with the cold war. Allen Ginsberg's direct and blunt address towards politics illustrates a powerfully strong tone of rejection the social ideals about the conflict with Russia. The poet also writes: "Go f**k yourself with your atom bomb"; in further rejection and intolerance of the political situation.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti expresses a tone of reality and sense of longing to separate from the industrial society that is emerging. In the poem "The Dog", Ferlinghetti writes: " ... he has his own free world to live in", becasue the dog is not influenced by social and political pressures. The dog's intellect is not limitied or restricted by social influences or political law. The poet addresses the conflict with conformity and its interference with realism; Ferlinghetti states: " ... investigating everthing/ without benefit of perjury/ a real realist" he realizes that man can never have this intellectual freedom with continuting political and social pressures.
1 comment:
I agree that Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti are reacting to the political and social influences of the time through a realist perspective. I tend to see Ginsberg as more cynical, perhaps due to his language being more explicit than Ferlinghetti. And, as you pointed out, I see Ferlinghetti as almost transcending the political and social influences.
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