Howl Group A

On the topic of the vulgarity, I think it might have two purposes the first of which is to add to the idea of the poem as a howl.  For example someone who might howl in pain or anger, as in the case of this poem, might also shout a few obscenities as well.  Secondly , the obscenity adds a bluntness to the poem which one would normally think poetry lacks. Like when I think of poetry I think of lots of metaphors, symbolism, and fluff that would go around, but might represent what an author is talking about.  So, I see it as a Ginsberg’s way to getting right at his opinion  on the “ destructive and abusive society “(as described by his bibliography) and letting people know exactly how he feels. A lot of people did not react too well to the language used in the poem and his publisher, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, ended up getting arrested for it.