The time in America following the confusion of World War II resulted in a great identity crisis for the thinkers of the country. Creators suddenly found them in a world resisting change for it felt it had experience enough in regards to the devastation of war. The country implemented strict social restrictions in a defensive response which ultimately led to great rebellion from those feeling repressed. Thus bore the era of the Beat Generation, which brought with it the ability to redefine former lines of specific roles for groups to follow. Of the courses to be altered, feminism leaped at the opportunity to classify itself as a substantial ideal that all of society could seriously regard. The women attempting to grow their voice to an undeniable force were regarded passively by authors Diane de Prima and Jack Kerouac, whom through acknowledgement alone provided power to their cause.
Diane di Prima explores the dilemma of pre-established sexual identities conflicting with the free spirit ideals emerging in the post war era with her poem "The Quarrel." Upon initial examination, the poem follows the structure of a conversation with ideas spewing out without any recognition of a premeditated process. Prima constructed the poem in this manner in order to exemplify two characteristics on the nature of the subject: the realistic frustration as well as the rawness of the emotion. By allowing the narration of the poem to progress as words exchanged between two people, Prima establishes the reliability of the context.
[...] Their role exists solely as an object of entertainment for the males of the story. Throughout the novel, the level of importance of female characters ranges from influential enough to receive a title that they can be referred to as a casual character developer for a man, "with his beautiful little sharp chick Marylou," or to general classifications to generate the realistic vision of the men of the time by incorporating desire for female company, "I knew there'd be girls...the most beautiful bevies of girls everywhere...I rushed past the pretty girls"(Kerouac 10, 17-25). [...]
[...] Both Prima and Kerouac created works with themes revolving around the sexual boundaries of individuals. Prima explored concepts of empowerment, while Kerouac approached the manner without ignorance and by doing so suggesting another form of strength. These writers of the Beat Generation dignified their era with their complete disregard of the repercussions of their work while simultaneously writing in complete disregard of that purpose. They instigated equality by marking awareness which propels change most efficiently. Works Cited Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. [...]
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