Poem Analysis - Walking Home At Night

A Glimpse into Urban Despair

Allen Ginsberg's "Walking Home At Night" is a short, powerful poem that evokes a sense of urban alienation and personal despair. The poem's tone is initially observational, but quickly descends into a visceral feeling of horror and self-loathing. Ginsberg masterfully uses imagery to paint a picture of bleakness and isolation, culminating in a raw expression of existential dread. The poem offers a snapshot of a mind grappling with feelings of failure and insignificance in the face of overwhelming urban structures.

The Imposing Cityscape and Personal Insignificance

The poem is deeply rooted in the urban environment. The "Port Authority Building," a real and imposing structure in New York City, serves as a symbol of the overwhelming, impersonal forces that dwarf the individual. Its position "hovering over" the "old ghetto side of the street" highlights the stark contrast between power and poverty, success and failure. This juxtaposition emphasizes the speaker's feeling of being trapped in a marginalized existence, overshadowed by the city's infrastructure and the promise of a life he seems unable to attain.

Themes of Isolation and Failure

Isolation is a dominant theme, as the speaker describes his tenement dwelling as being "in company with obscure Bartlebys and Judes." These literary allusions – Bartleby from Melville's story of passive resistance and Jude from Hardy's novel about frustrated ambition – suggest a shared fate of quiet desperation and unfulfilled potential. The imagery of "cadaverous men, shrouded men, soft white eshed failures" further reinforces this theme, portraying a community of individuals worn down and resigned to their circumstances. The speaker clearly sees himself as one of these figures, highlighting his own sense of isolation within a larger group of similarly defeated individuals. Failure is another central theme: the men are explicitly labeled as "failures" and are described as "creeping in and out of rooms," suggesting a lack of purpose and a retreat from the outside world. Finally, a profound sense of existential dread surfaces in the poem’s final lines. The speaker’s recognition of his own situation culminates in a desperate, visceral reaction, reflecting a deep-seated fear of the meaninglessness he perceives in his life.

The Weight of Symbols: Building and Attics

The Port Authority Building isn't just a building; it's a symbol of overwhelming power and perhaps even oppressive societal structures. Its size and prominence contrast starkly with the "old ghetto side of the street," emphasizing the speaker's marginalized position. The "attic," representing the speaker's living space, is more than just a room; it's a symbol of confinement and a retreat from the world. The memory of this cramped, isolated space triggers the speaker’s anguished reaction, highlighting the psychological burden of his living situation. It could also represent the speaker’s mind, a cramped space filled with dark thoughts.

The Cry of Horror and its Significance

The poem concludes with the speaker's desperate cry, "Oh, God how horrible!" This raw expression of horror is the emotional climax of the poem, encapsulating the speaker's profound sense of despair and self-loathing. It’s a moment of stark self-awareness, a recognition of the speaker's perceived failure and the bleakness of his existence. The poem’s significance lies in its ability to capture a fleeting moment of intense emotional distress and to express the feelings of isolation and powerlessness that can arise from urban life. It is a testament to Ginsberg's ability to transform personal experience into a universal expression of human suffering.