Howl Religion Quotes

How does the speaker know the angels are Islamic, or "Mohammedan"? There is no indication from these lines. Ginsberg was less interested in complicated theological differences and debates than in the sheer power of religious imagery. He used images and symbols from many different religious traditions.

The Beats had an affinity for Asian literature and Zen Buddhist writings in particular. Is the speaker suggesting that "nowhere," "Zen," and "New Jersey" could be the same place? "Zen" isn't actually a place, except metaphorically: it's a state of enlightenment characterized by the absence of thought or feeling.

"Mysticism" refers to religious practices that aim for an immediate connection with the divine. Kabbalah is a form of Jewish mysticism, and St. John of the Cross was a Christian mystical writer. The speaker of Howl does not show a wide knowledge of religious traditions, but rather an interest in specific (and generally radical) thinkers from several different faiths.

The poem contains two references to Native American spirituality (see also: line 13). Some Native American tribes use a hallucinogenic plant called "peyote" to induce visions at religious ceremonies.

This line demonstrates the speaker's ambivalent attitude toward religion. On the one hand, the cathedrals are called "hopeless," as in, they fail to inspire hope. On the other hand, the people in prayer achieve "illumination" inside the cathedral, if only for a brief moment.

The phrase "eli eli lamma lamma sabacthani," means, roughly, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus Christ supposedly uttered it as he died on the Cross. Ginsberg adopts the story of Christ's death and resurrection as a metaphor for the resurrection of poor poets into jazz musicians. He portrays them as modern-day messiahs who sacrifice themselves for their art.

"Moloch" is the name of a false god in Ancient Hebrew scripture. This line contrasts an idea of Heaven as superior to humans and "above" them to an idea of Heaven as "everywhere about us."

Ginsberg proudly associates socialism with Judaism, or at least with Jews. He may also be poking fun at the anti-Semites who made this argument. By contrast, Golgotha, the site of Christ's death, is associated with fascism and nationalism. In other words, these two forces are responsible for "killing" the loving spirit of Christ.

Solomon (and, implicitly, the speaker of the poem) value the "human" Jesus, who died for his love of mankind, over the "superhuman" Jesus as the Son of God. Although this view runs contrary to most Christian theology, Ginsberg didn't really care about remaining true to dogma.