If you manage to finish Allen Ginsberg's Howl in one sitting, with your complete, fullest attention and focus. You're about half way into understanding the reasons behind human insanity.
Ginsberg reiterate a laundry list of insane activities that sounds like it would only happen in a novel (such as a clockwork orange) , or in a horror film. Except he presents it in a poem. Which is a literary form of art known for its ways of beautifying or romanticizing the nature of things. That is the known accomplishment of Ginsberg, his innovation of the art.
But what is most important is his observation towards the state of the 1950's America, as he sees a brilliant patch of his generation being exploit and destroyed at the time. Whom later contributes to numerous acts of violence and obscurity. Who waves their genitals and gets fucked in the ass with joy. Are they are mad or are they free? For in a society, they can only be one or the other.
If they live in Sparta, or in any society known for its violence and obscurity, perhaps the generation can then be judged free and normal. But in Eisenhower's America, such madness is in accordance with the brilliant generations lack of intellectual and creative freedom. These people whom might never become famous or earn a living wage for their originality. The Capitalistic and materialistic America allows the rush for riches, celebrates the eternal greed, and dance around the people who owns things. Not the ones who travels to various states for the pursuit for adventure.
In Corporate America, freedom is madness.
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