Kerouac and Ginsberg

          Big Sur- Jack Kerouac

In the chapter 12 Kerouac compares Dave’s driving to sitting on a rocking chair relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Jack seems to have a carefree attitude at this point, simply enjoying the scenery.  It is only when he notices the housing developments and factories does this attitude change.  Jack and David both begin to reflect on how a writer is unable to capture every detail of life because it changes and develops so quickly.  There is a sense of despair and helplessness as they reflect on how so much has been accomplished. Yet, if a person cannot even comprehend and keep up with the changing world, then one cannot write about it.  Because the passengers in the van conclude that they cannot understand life, they just drink it away.

This story kind of reminds me of Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Although this story is clearly not Hemingway’s autobiography, one may assume that a lot of it reflects his life.   The main character, too, becomes overwhelmed with his life, unable to keep up with it and, therefore, unable to write about it.  This makes me wonder if Kerouac follows Harry’s pattern in the Snows of Kilimanjaro and let’s distress and cynicism get the best of him, failing to carry out his desires. I suppose I do know the answer to that, however, because Kerouac was clearly an alcoholic who lost his life because of it.

                                                                Allen Ginsberg: “Howl"

I really did try to understand Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” I even tried listening to a clip of Ginsberg reading it out loud, however, to no avail.  What I can recall about this poem is the vulgar language and discussion of drugs and sex. That’s about it.