During the 1950s, a group of young American writers began to openly oppose societal norms in favor of other radical beliefs. These writers believed in ideas such as spiritual and sexual liberation, the decriminalization of drugs, and opposition to industrialism as well as consumerism (Parkins). Over time, these writers became known as the Beat Generation and created the Beat. Movement. Among the members of this rebel group was the infamous Allen Ginsberg who is considerably one of the most influential poets of his time. Using tools such as imagery, allusions and symbols, “A Supermarket. in California" by Allen Ginsberg addresses themes such as consumerism, sexuality, and alienation that reflect Ginsberg's personal beliefs and desire for change" criticizes America in the mid-20th century, in which society had. acquired an attitude that highly valued the materialistic aspects of life. In order to effectively express the speaker's dissatisfaction with society, he paints images using vivid details throughout the poem to allow. the reader to experience what the speaker experiences himself. He begins by describing the scenery of the streets of California: "I walked the side streets under the trees.../...looking at the full moon" (2-3) and thought of Walt Whitman, a 19th century poet whom Ginsberg admired deeply. . The setting is essential because it describes the two worlds in which the speaker lives; one represented by the metropolitan landscape of downtown California and another represented by nature, of which the speaker longs to be a part. The speaker describes himself as a lost soul seeking satisfaction in conventional America, a place where he does not...... middle of paper ......g with many individuals, is alienated and , in turn, wishes for extreme change and even another life. Ginsberg conveys a vital message that endures even more in 2010. Materialism does not create man, it is insignificant. What is imperative is the natural world; beauty, individuality and real human interactions, because these are concepts that make an individual. Works Cited “Lethe (Greek mythology) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia”. Encyclopedia – Encyclopedia BritannicaOnline. Internet. February 9, 2010. Lindemans, Micha F. “Charon”. Mythica Encyclopedia: mythology, folklore and religion. Web.February 9, 2010. .Parkins, Keith. “Beat the generation”. Clara. net - Customer Index. Internet. February 9. 2010..