Introduction
Allen Ginsberg’s 1956 poem “America” recounts the tumultuous Time following WWII when the country’s prospects were bleak. By opening the veil of national passivity, the poem expresses those times of political insecurity and asks for positive change. This poem appears many major subjects, including earlier conflicts, nuclear weapons, and Asian foreign policy. Other prominent topics are racial turmoil in the United States and the anti-communist struggle. “America” is an overview of Ginsberg’s political ideas as well as an appraisal of the country’s current position at the Time.
Americas Theme
“America” is theory-based political poetry that shows hostility toward democracy and has strong feelings about some aspects of society. The author’s rebellious attitude and his Russian lineage contribute to his vision of a socialist society modeled on Russia’s communism in the United States. The author’s inquiries into America as a whole show his firm hold on his convictions, presenting him as an extreme in that sense. At the Time, the world was entangled in the old war, which helped reveal the true natures of the countries involved. The speaker addresses America directly at the start of the poem (Ginsberg). Things are gloomy and depressing, and the speaker is disappointed. He is broke both financially and psychologically, and he is tired of the country’s conflicts.
The speaker believes that America is at the point of collapse, and he is eager to learn when the country will recover its prosperity. He also considers the elderly communists and labor activists who are still fighting for their goals. The speaker makes it clear to the reader that he is aware of his actions. He is now bereft of reason and spends his Time attempting to go against the grain. When his attempts at hooking up fail, he stares at the flowers inside the closet, smokes marijuana, and becomes drunk. This grueling habit represents restlessness and inactivity’s despair.
The speaker then makes a sarcastic appeal for lyrical uniqueness, followed by an emotional plea to release the union’s imprisoned militants. The appeal is also directed to other oppressed people. He had attended many fantastic communist gatherings as a child, but that age is long gone. In this poem, the uneducated and paranoid individuals who blame Russia for every catastrophe are also mocked. To summarize, the poet believes that this state of futility cannot persist forever. Someone who wants things to change must take action. The poem’s conclusion expresses an optimistic speaker’s willingness to help solve all of these difficulties on his initiative.
Ginsberg establishes the poem’s tone by addressing America with a disgruntled attitude, discussing the period’s culture and how military the country was, and pointing to topics such as nuclear testing. Ginsberg was a man who believed in peace; after all, he created the phrase “flower power,” so whatever war position he takes will be unfavorable. As the poem progresses, it gets increasingly political, addressing the cold war and the battle against communism. By comparing the pronouns “he” and “her,” Ginsberg personifies both America and Russia. Ginsberg grew up as a communist; therefore, this section of the poem is a little more personal to him. He does not disguise the fact that he sympathizes with communists. Though the Russian menace has passed, America still has another “antagonist” to contend with. Furthermore, it will remain that way in the future (Shoopman).
During Ginsberg’s discussion about Time Magazine, the flip to first-person happens. His tone likewise shifts in this segment, from earnest to mocking. The boundary between the first and second person grows progressively unclear at this point in the poem until he exclaims, “I am America” at the end. Another possibility is that the first-person transition takes place before rather than after his description of Time. Perhaps he is not the only one who is enamored with Time Magazine and reads it every week. In these lines, the “I” might refer to America rather than the author (Kramer). This poem appealed to me since it was one of the few poems I came across that did not laud America in any manner.
Allen Ginsberg’s “America” was written at a difficult period, shortly after World War II and at the start of the Cold War; this was when taking a position for personal views was fraught with controversy, and Ginsberg did precisely that. Although many people see America as “the finest country” and the most accommodating of various races, Allen Ginsberg demonstrates that Americans are not as accepting and wonderful as many people believe (Lauter). Like any other country, America has faults and weaknesses that cause many people to feel unhappy or upset with their country.
Ginsberg’s admission to his experience with communist doctrines, such as Marx’s, supports his frank admissions and declares that, unlike many other Americans, he will not pray about it or seek forgiveness. He is self-assured and unapologetic; like the country, he has flaws, but he is not embarrassed by them or attempting to disguise them. He feels that many Americans are in denial about national and personal problems. The speaker attempts to address and chastise America several times before realizing he is addressing himself. He is both American and America.
The speaker’s perspective on America swings from speaking to it, being a part of it, to mocking it for its political and military relations. He mentions Time Magazine (pp. 41-50) and the toll it takes on Americans before realizing it affects him as well. The magazine’s content substantially impacts the country’s emotions, which he criticizes, but he confesses that he is hooked by it as well, “reading it every week” (line 44). The poem identifies America and the speaker as two distinct entities and a unified one from this point forward.
The bravery of a speech like this in 1955 has no parallel in modern American culture. Ginsberg was effectively declaring himself as a criminal, a felon, and a traitor. “You should have seen me reading Marx; my therapist believes I am completely correct,” He says, further antagonizing the situation. Ginsberg’s sardonic character shows through here, as he is declared sane by a doctor, most likely certified by a government department of medicine, at a time when Senator McCarthy would have thought that Communists were dangerous and mentally unstable.
Conclusion
Ginsberg shifts from addressing America to addressing himself in the second verse; this is a significant step since it is here that he realizes there are two Americas. “It comes to me that I am America, and I am speaking to myself once more.” It is also significant to note the mention of marijuana in this section (Kramer). Ginsberg was an active marijuana user and was at the vanguard of the psychedelic movement in the late 1960s, but it is clear that he had been using the drug daily for over a decade before. This insight comes from Time Magazine, which he is infatuated with and reads regularly. “It is continually lecturing me on responsibility.” For Shoopman, people in business are profound, as are movie producers.
Works Cited
Ginsberg, Allen. “America by Allen Ginsberg.” Poetry Foundation. Web.
Kramer, Jane “Books: Odd Man in; Allen Ginsberg in America.” TIME.com, Times Magazine. Web.
Lauter, Paul. A Companion to American Literature and Culture. John Wiley & Sons, 2020.
Shoopman, James G. Patterns of American Popular Heroism: From Roman and Biblical Roots to Modern Media. McFarland, 2020.