A Supermarket in A Supermarket in CaliforniaCalifornia

By Allen GinsbergBy Allen Ginsberg

BioBio

He was born in Newark in 1926 and died in 1997.He was born in Newark in 1926 and died in 1997. His early life was troubled because of his mother’s battle with His early life was troubled because of his mother’s battle with

mental illness and this informed his poems.mental illness and this informed his poems. He traveled extensively throughout the world and was expelled He traveled extensively throughout the world and was expelled

from many communist countries (most notably Cuba) for being from many communist countries (most notably Cuba) for being subversive, these travels influenced his work.subversive, these travels influenced his work.

He won the National Book award for He won the National Book award for The Fall of AmericaThe Fall of America, and was , and was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Cultural awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Cultural ministry.ministry.

His poem “Howl” was (and is) the source of much controversy His poem “Howl” was (and is) the source of much controversy over what some consider to be obscene themes and words. It and over what some consider to be obscene themes and words. It and other poems like it was responsible for the repeal of many anti-other poems like it was responsible for the repeal of many anti-obscenity laws. It remains his most famous work.obscenity laws. It remains his most famous work.

He was also a musician and appears on The Clash’s album He was also a musician and appears on The Clash’s album “Combat Rock.”“Combat Rock.”

He wrote “A Supermarket in California” in 1955 while living in He wrote “A Supermarket in California” in 1955 while living in Berkley.Berkley.

A Supermarket in CaliforniaA Supermarket in California

What thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whitman, forWhat thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whitman, forI walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headacheI walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headacheself-conscious looking at the full moon.self-conscious looking at the full moon.In my hungry fatigue, and shopping for images, I wentIn my hungry fatigue, and shopping for images, I wentinto the neon fruit supermarket, dreaming of your enumerations!into the neon fruit supermarket, dreaming of your enumerations!What peaches and what penumbras! Whole familiesWhat peaches and what penumbras! Whole familiesshopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in theshopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in theavocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, whatavocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, whatwere you doing down by the watermelons?were you doing down by the watermelons?

I saw you, Walt Whitman, childless, lonely old grubber,I saw you, Walt Whitman, childless, lonely old grubber,poking among the meats in the refrigerator and eyeing the grocerypoking among the meats in the refrigerator and eyeing the groceryboys.boys.I heard you asking questions of each: Who killed theI heard you asking questions of each: Who killed thepork chops? What price bananas? Are you my Angel?pork chops? What price bananas? Are you my Angel?I wandered in and out of the brilliant stacks of cansI wandered in and out of the brilliant stacks of cansfollowing you, and followed in my imagination by the storefollowing you, and followed in my imagination by the storedetective.detective.We strode down the open corridors together in ourWe strode down the open corridors together in oursolitary fancy tasting artichokes, possessing every frozensolitary fancy tasting artichokes, possessing every frozendelicacy, and never passing the cashier. delicacy, and never passing the cashier.

A Supermarket in CaliforniaA Supermarket in California

Where are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close inWhere are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close inan hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?an hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in thesupermarket and feel absurd.)supermarket and feel absurd.)Will we walk all night through solitary streets? TheWill we walk all night through solitary streets? Thetrees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we'll both betrees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we'll both belonely.lonely.

Will we stroll dreaming of the lost America of loveWill we stroll dreaming of the lost America of lovepast blue automobiles in driveways, home to our silent cottage?past blue automobiles in driveways, home to our silent cottage?

Ah, dear father, graybeard, lonely old courage-teacher,Ah, dear father, graybeard, lonely old courage-teacher,what America did you have when Charon quit poling his ferry andwhat America did you have when Charon quit poling his ferry andyou got out on a smoking bank and stood watching the boatyou got out on a smoking bank and stood watching the boatdisappear on the black waters of Lethe?disappear on the black waters of Lethe?

Allen Ginsberg Reads “A Allen Ginsberg Reads “A Supermarket in California”Supermarket in California”

YouTubeYouTube - Allen Ginsberg- A Supermarket In C - Allen Ginsberg- A Supermarket In Californiaalifornia

The SpeakerThe Speaker

The speaker is educated, but The speaker is educated, but appears to be a lonely broken man. appears to be a lonely broken man.

He is searching for meaning and He is searching for meaning and something beautiful, something something beautiful, something natural in modern America.natural in modern America.

The SubjectThe Subject

The poem deals with the loss of the old The poem deals with the loss of the old America, the America that could have America, the America that could have inspired Whitman.inspired Whitman.

We see through the speaker the We see through the speaker the alienation and homogenization of alienation and homogenization of modern America, and the speaker’s modern America, and the speaker’s sadness about what he can never sadness about what he can never experience due to the unfortunate experience due to the unfortunate timing of his birth.timing of his birth.

Images Images

The first images we see are inside the The first images we see are inside the supermarket, where the speaker remarks supermarket, where the speaker remarks on the produce and the “Aisles full of on the produce and the “Aisles full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies in the tomatoes!”in the tomatoes!”

He compares the shopping families to the He compares the shopping families to the produce, because to him they are no produce, because to him they are no different—no important story, no different—no important story, no distinction deeper than age or sex. distinction deeper than age or sex.

Images cont.Images cont.

Garcia Lorca is inserted as a contrast to Garcia Lorca is inserted as a contrast to the shoppers. He was a Spanish poet in the shoppers. He was a Spanish poet in the thirties whose works were censored the thirties whose works were censored by the fascist government of Franco by the fascist government of Franco after his death. He is a symbol of after his death. He is a symbol of repressed art in America, and the repressed art in America, and the speaker expresses surprise to see him speaker expresses surprise to see him out in the open and in a soulless out in the open and in a soulless supermarket.supermarket.

Images cont.Images cont.

Walt Whitman is a symbol of the old America, the Walt Whitman is a symbol of the old America, the America that the speaker wants to live in. He is America that the speaker wants to live in. He is described as an old fool who demands things no described as an old fool who demands things no one asks or cares about anymore “Who killed the one asks or cares about anymore “Who killed the pork chops?” trying to find the story behind what pork chops?” trying to find the story behind what he is buying although there no longer is any story he is buying although there no longer is any story behind anything in the supermarket.behind anything in the supermarket.

He is portrayed this way because according to the He is portrayed this way because according to the speaker a man like Whitman would not be able to speaker a man like Whitman would not be able to remain sane in modern society, he would be remain sane in modern society, he would be reduced to a doddering old fool who wanders the reduced to a doddering old fool who wanders the supermarket at night.supermarket at night.

Images cont.Images cont.

The blue automobiles further the The blue automobiles further the sense of conformity in America, the sense of conformity in America, the way it is stated implies that all of the way it is stated implies that all of the cars are blue and the same.cars are blue and the same.

The entire last stanza uses The entire last stanza uses mythological characters and settings mythological characters and settings to add a sense of grandeur to the to add a sense of grandeur to the death of Whitman.death of Whitman.

OrganizationOrganization

Five stanzasFive stanzas Free verseFree verse Mostly long sentences broken up by Mostly long sentences broken up by

commas with a few breaks of short commas with a few breaks of short exclamations, or questions.exclamations, or questions.

OrganizationOrganization

I divided it into four sections:I divided it into four sections: First stanza (lines 1-9), the speaker describes the First stanza (lines 1-9), the speaker describes the

supermarket and its patrons.supermarket and its patrons. Second stanza (lines 10-20) The speaker “meets” Walt Second stanza (lines 10-20) The speaker “meets” Walt

Whitman and follows him through his dazed supermarket Whitman and follows him through his dazed supermarket journey.journey.

Questioning (lines 21-29) The speaker questions “Whitman” Questioning (lines 21-29) The speaker questions “Whitman” about the literal plan for their night, and indirectly the about the literal plan for their night, and indirectly the reader “Where are we going, Walt Whitman?” This section reader “Where are we going, Walt Whitman?” This section is meant to question the course of modern America .is meant to question the course of modern America .

The Death of Walt Whitman (lines 30-34) this brings the The Death of Walt Whitman (lines 30-34) this brings the central question of the poem out “What America did you central question of the poem out “What America did you have,” it questions both the existence of the America both have,” it questions both the existence of the America both the speaker and Whitman yearn for, and our own modern the speaker and Whitman yearn for, and our own modern America; the speaker is asking the reader directly about America; the speaker is asking the reader directly about what America they have.what America they have.

Diction and SyntaxDiction and Syntax

The use of long sentences gives the poem the feel of an older work, The use of long sentences gives the poem the feel of an older work, possibly from the time of Walt Whitman. This impression is reinforced possibly from the time of Walt Whitman. This impression is reinforced by the elevated language used (enumerations, penumbras, etc.)by the elevated language used (enumerations, penumbras, etc.)

The poem is told in the past tense because the speaker is reflecting The poem is told in the past tense because the speaker is reflecting upon his experience, which he realizes is absurd when he finds the upon his experience, which he realizes is absurd when he finds the real Whitman represented by the book. This is done to highlight the real Whitman represented by the book. This is done to highlight the questions which are in the present “Where questions which are in the present “Where areare we going,” “ we going,” “WillWill we we stroll.” The questions are in the present because the speaker means stroll.” The questions are in the present because the speaker means for them to transcend the specific circumstances of the poem and for them to transcend the specific circumstances of the poem and become questions the reader is supposed to ask himself.become questions the reader is supposed to ask himself.

The other instance that the present is used is in the description of the The other instance that the present is used is in the description of the supermarket. It is used there because those shoppers and their supermarket. It is used there because those shoppers and their actions are interchangeable with all other shoppers at all times.actions are interchangeable with all other shoppers at all times.

The observations at the supermarket are also given exclamation The observations at the supermarket are also given exclamation points to convey the feeling that everything in modern America is points to convey the feeling that everything in modern America is loud, full of false excitment, and right NOW!loud, full of false excitment, and right NOW!

ConclusionConclusion

““A Supermarket in California” is a poem that is A Supermarket in California” is a poem that is meant to question the notions that modernization meant to question the notions that modernization is better and that all progress is good progress. It is better and that all progress is good progress. It bemoans the prevailing ideas of fast, cheap, mass bemoans the prevailing ideas of fast, cheap, mass produced. It yearns for a simpler time, a time that produced. It yearns for a simpler time, a time that could produce men like Walt Whitman the “old could produce men like Walt Whitman the “old courage-teacher” who not only was a symbol of old courage-teacher” who not only was a symbol of old America, but also is a symbol of non-conformism America, but also is a symbol of non-conformism and protest. The America seen by the poem is one and protest. The America seen by the poem is one devoid of art and of true human expression. It devoid of art and of true human expression. It encourages us to question, to work for change, and encourages us to question, to work for change, and to appreciate the few remaining vestiges of the to appreciate the few remaining vestiges of the “lost America of love”“lost America of love”

A Supermarket in CaliforniaA Supermarket in California

What thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whitman, forWhat thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whitman, forI walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headacheI walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headacheself-conscious looking at the full moon.self-conscious looking at the full moon.In my hungry fatigue, and shopping for images, I wentIn my hungry fatigue, and shopping for images, I wentinto the neon fruit supermarket, dreaming of your enumerations!into the neon fruit supermarket, dreaming of your enumerations!What peaches and what penumbras! Whole familiesWhat peaches and what penumbras! Whole familiesshopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in theshopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in theavocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, whatavocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, whatwere you doing down by the watermelons?were you doing down by the watermelons?

I saw you, Walt Whitman, childless, lonely old grubber,I saw you, Walt Whitman, childless, lonely old grubber,poking among the meats in the refrigerator and eyeing the grocerypoking among the meats in the refrigerator and eyeing the groceryboys.boys.I heard you asking questions of each: Who killed theI heard you asking questions of each: Who killed thepork chops? What price bananas? Are you my Angel?pork chops? What price bananas? Are you my Angel?I wandered in and out of the brilliant stacks of cansI wandered in and out of the brilliant stacks of cansfollowing you, and followed in my imagination by the storefollowing you, and followed in my imagination by the storedetective.detective.We strode down the open corridors together in ourWe strode down the open corridors together in oursolitary fancy tasting artichokes, possessing every frozensolitary fancy tasting artichokes, possessing every frozendelicacy, and never passing the cashier. delicacy, and never passing the cashier.

A Supermarket in CaliforniaA Supermarket in California

Where are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close inWhere are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close inan hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?an hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in thesupermarket and feel absurd.)supermarket and feel absurd.)Will we walk all night through solitary streets? TheWill we walk all night through solitary streets? Thetrees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we'll both betrees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we'll both belonely.lonely.

Will we stroll dreaming of the lost America of loveWill we stroll dreaming of the lost America of lovepast blue automobiles in driveways, home to our silent cottage?past blue automobiles in driveways, home to our silent cottage?

Ah, dear father, graybeard, lonely old courage-teacher,Ah, dear father, graybeard, lonely old courage-teacher,what America did you have when Charon quit poling his ferry andwhat America did you have when Charon quit poling his ferry andyou got out on a smoking bank and stood watching the boatyou got out on a smoking bank and stood watching the boatdisappear on the black waters of Lethe?disappear on the black waters of Lethe?