Award Date

1-1-2008

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Committee Member

Nick LoLordo.

Number of Pages

82

Abstract

Throughout his poetry, Allen Ginsberg is in continual dialogue with Walt Whitman. This thesis focuses on prominent differences in the evolving American character which made these two kindred spirits nevertheless different from each other. In Whitman's time the United States was concerned with the expansion of, and pushing back of, borders of all kinds. To Whitman, America was a collection of states less concerned with dominating the world than with welcoming it in, in every possible respect. By contrast, Ginsberg's America had gained a position of unimaginable world power. Yet to maintain that power, Cold War America had to close itself off from many people, ideas, and possibilities that might threaten its newfound prominence. Through his dialogue with Whitman, Allen Ginsberg chides America for such narrow-minded thinking and reintroduces Cold War America to what it used to be.

Keywords

American; Beard; Allen Ginsberg; Point; Quest; Resurrect; Tonight; Way; Whitman; Walt Whitman

Controlled Subject

American literature; Literature, Modern

File Format

pdf

File Size

1320.96 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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