The Beat Generation of America Essay - 2258 Words

The Beat Generation of America But then they danced down the street like dingledoolies, and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles, exploding like spiders across the starts, and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’ (Kerouac 9) Burn, burn, burn, says Kerouac, and that is what the Beats were all about. From the all-night, smoke-filled jazz clubs of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, to the trendy bars of†¦show more content†¦Starting as a group of friends from Columbia University, they eventually came to be known as the Beats. Led by Jack Kerouac, this group included such artists as Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Bill Burroughs, Neal Cassady, and many others. They came from all walks of life. Kerouac was the only surviving son of a French-Canadian family who moved to America in the 1920s. His father ran a print shop, but they often found themselves moving from house to house in Lowell, Massachusetts where they lived. Where they moved depended on whether they were prospering at the time, or suffering due to Leo Kerouac’s (Jack’s father) gambling problems. Burroughs came from a well to do family in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to whom he would often turn throughout his years to bail h im out of tough times financially, or legally. They came from all parts of America. Neal Cassady was himself an import coming to New York from Colorado. But they had one thing in common: their desire to live. They expressed this in various ways, some of which were positive, and some of which were negative. These men and women were far from being the angels that some in history make them out to be. Various aspects of their lives demonstrate this. First, the use of drugs among the members of this group was rampant. Benzedrine (speed), morphine, marijuana, and alcohol were the most widely used. Bill Burroughs, author of And the Hippos Were Boiled in their Tanks, wasShow MoreRelatedThe Hippie Movement and the Beat Movemnt1704 Words   |  7 PagesHow the Hippies got hip with the beat of the Beat Movement Jack Kerouac once said, â€Å"the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars† (Kerouac 5). Kerouac was the symbol of the Beat Movement. He was the rebellious and adventurous man, who during his time wasRead MoreEssay on The Beat Generation887 Words   |  4 PagesThe beat movement is a literary period born out of World War II. This movement in American Literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America. Characterized by personal alienation and contempt for convention, the movement celebrated stylistic freedom and spontaneity. The Beat writers created a new vision of modern life and altered the nature of awareness in America. The Beat Generation was one of the first groups of writers to break down the barriersRead More The Beat Generation Essay850 Words   |  4 Pages The â€Å"beat movement† is a literary period born out of World War II. This movement in American Literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America. Characterized by personal alienation and contempt for convention, the movement celebrated stylistic freedom and spontaneity. The Beat writers created a new vision of modern life and altered the nature of awareness in America. The Beat Generation was one of the first groups of writers to break down the barriersRead MoreThe Beat Generation Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Road, is a brilliant example of the overall feel of the Beat Generation. Jack Kerouac is one of the most influential writers of the Beat Generation, rivaled only by the likes of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burrough. But what exactly is the Beat Generation? What does it mean? Who of note was involved? When did it take place? The â€Å"Beat Generation† is a play on words, implying that the participants had been beaten down. The Beat Generation at its core is a collection of post-World War II authorsRead MoreCensorship Of The Beat Generation1062 Words   |  5 Pages it was a trying and solemn period for America so many turned to writing to reflect their situation as a form of comfort. However, there were restrictions on what was read, written, heard and spoke due to the influence of communism. During this period of suppression, there a group of young, intelligent and anti-conformist boys who were studying at Colombia University. Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg are the ‘founders’ of Beat Generation. The group beliefs focused on individualityRead MoreJack Kerouacs On The Road852 Words   |  4 PagesOn the Road by Jack Kerouac explores the core ideologies of the Beat Generation, dealing with non-conformity in a post World War II America. The Beats were, in essence, twentieth century transcendentalists- believing in the power of the individual to clamor against the chains of society. They defied social constructs in all aspects of life, including sexuality, drugs, politics, and ways of thought. On the Road encapsulates the Beat way of life in the tale of Sal Paradise’s search for answers acrossRead MoreAnalysis Of Howl By Allen Ginsberg1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Beat generation can be seen as counterculture and relates to contemporary society. Contemporary society is defined as era categorized by technological innovation and a growth in human interaction and globalization. In the poem Howl, by Allen Ginsberg who is one of the Beat writers, he uses almost all the themes used by the Beat writers. The Beat writers asked intellectual questions about sexuality, identity, bureaucracy and religion. When re-reading their work years later we might perceive itRead MoreJack Kerouac and The Beat Generation Essay1160 Words   |  5 PagesBorn to die The Beat Generation, made up of writers, artists and misfits, was forged not long after the end of World War II. People wanted change, the old ways and traditions were slowly being neglected and social rules of that time were put into question. The Beat Generation were the ones leading the way in questioning the old rules and regulations not because they wanted to but because America wanted it. The Beat Generation was a bohemian hipster like movement that got its drive and inspirationRead MoreThe Beat Generation1150 Words   |  5 Pageswoe unto those who think that the Beat Generation means crime, delinquency, immorality, amorality ... woe unto those who attack it on the grounds that they simply don’t understand history and the yearning of human souls ... woe in fact unto those who those who make evil movies about the Beat Generation where innocent housewives are raped by beatniks! ... woe unto those who spit on the Beat Generation, the wind’ll blow it back. -- Jack K erouac The Beat Generation or â€Å"Beatness†, if you will, hasRead MoreConfessionalist Characteristics Of Allen Ginsberg And The Beat Generation1540 Words   |  7 PagesBeat Generation Research Paper During the 1950s, many different literary movements came to the spotlight. Two such movements were Confessionalism and Beat poetry. There are many commonalities between these movements, and often, authors and works from the Beat movement incorporate various Confessionalist characteristics. Allen Ginsberg, one such author, combined both Confessionalism and Beat poetry in a variety of his works, including Howl and Kaddish. The Confessionalist aspects of Allen Ginsberg