Rise and decline of Beat literature

Abstract

In the post-World War II America, beat generation started its journey to find a new vision of life that would enable people to experience life with freedom and hope; and to find that new vision, literature was the method that made the connection between the journey for the new vision and the new found faith and spirituality. Beat literature produced great literary works that would inspire generations to overcome personal struggle, as well as the fear of social and cultural restrictions, material society and global conflicts. This dissertation attempts to trace the origin of beat literature, its characteristics and its decline, as well as its remaining legacy as itcontinues to influence numerous subcultures and cultural and political movements.