This paper examines selected literature of the Modernist Era and the search for identity in and outside of the United States during this time.
One of the characteristics of Modernism in America is the development of changing attitudes towards religion, and in particular Christianity, which was seen as the traditional religion that had, up until then, been a pillar of American beliefs. These changed attitudes ranged anywhere from questioning one’s religion or faith to having flat out aversions to even the idea of (any) God. (my emphasis) In the late 1800’s, under the influence of the idea of successful Manifest Destiny, and major advances in sciences and technology, people were generally high-spirited, grounded in their beliefs. They minded their own business, followed their goals and dreams. They witnessed, or even experienced abundance, and paid little attention to things that they felt did not concern them, including foreign affairs.
Table of Contents
1) Introduction. Changes in American Literature Between the Wars
2) The Waste Land: Fragments of Society Reflected in Poetry
3) The Great Gatsby: Reactions to Changed Elements of Society
4) The Sun Also Rises: A Response from Abroad
5) The Grapes of Wrath: Mixed Responses to Mixed Messages
6) Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to examine selected literary works from the Modernist era in order to determine how American society responded to the rejection of traditional beliefs and whether the nation successfully reconstructed its identity during this period of transition.
- The evolution of American attitudes toward religion and traditional beliefs following World War I.
- The representation of societal fragmentation and disillusionment in Modernist literature.
- The impact of economic shifts, technological progress, and social changes on the American identity.
- A comparative analysis of how different authors, including expatriate voices, processed the societal upheavals of the time.
Excerpt from the Book
The Great Gatsby: Reactions to Changed Elements of Society
In 1845, John O’Sullivan introduced the concept of Manifest Destiny, a term that quickly found its way into the American consciousness. This concept framed the widely-held beliefs in America that it was their 'mission from God' to expand the American borders across the continent to reach the West coast. In this country that was still less than one hundred years old, "such enormous increases in the country's size inspired the growth of an intense national pride, thus also providing a deepening of the identity associated with living in America and being an American. The feats of frontier settlers evolved into myth and a set of idealized character traits." As the Twentieth-Century approached, the goals of Manifest Destiny seemed within reach and, coupled with Christian-biblical influences that were enhanced with values of liberty, equality and justice, it could be said that many people saw what they thought were the deserved and well-earned fruits of their labor: American borders reached both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and many held America, and Americans, in an invincible light. It could be said that many people thought that the rules of life were relatively easy: if one minded their own business and did "God's will", abundance and safety were provided. As such, many people did this, and were oblivious to what was happening outside the United States.
Through advances in technology and transportation, abundance did come in 'respectable and legal ways' (my emphasis), but at the same time it brought with it highly underestimated social changes and problems that resulted in organized crime and what many people described as the decline of morality in America. Many of these issues are reflected in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Written in 1922, the book shows many of the social contradictions and issues that were manifesting, or becoming more prevalent, in American culture in the 1920's. Fitzgerald introduces the reader to the world of the Great Gatsby through Nick, using the I-as-witness narrator, which puts a certain distance between Nick and the actual story, and additional between the reader and the story.
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction. Changes in American Literature Between the Wars: This chapter introduces the shifting cultural and religious landscape in America post-World War I and outlines the paper's goal of exploring how literature responded to this identity crisis.
2) The Waste Land: Fragments of Society Reflected in Poetry: This section analyzes T.S. Eliot's poem as a reflection of the fractured state of American society and the difficulties of processing overwhelming modern change.
3) The Great Gatsby: Reactions to Changed Elements of Society: This chapter examines how F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel addresses the moral decline and social contradictions that emerged alongside the era's material abundance.
4) The Sun Also Rises: A Response from Abroad: This analysis focuses on Hemingway's portrayal of the 'Lost Generation' and how expatriate experiences reflect the aimlessness and identity struggles of the time.
5) The Grapes of Wrath: Mixed Responses to Mixed Messages: This chapter explores Steinbeck's depiction of the Great Depression, highlighting the Joad family's struggle and the blending of naturalism with themes of biblical retribution.
6) Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the literary journey through these works, observing that the era was characterized by a persistent state of flux and a continuous search for stability.
Keywords
American Modernism, Literature, Identity, World War I, The Waste Land, The Great Gatsby, The Sun Also Rises, The Grapes of Wrath, Social Change, Great Depression, Lost Generation, Religion, Manifest Destiny, Morality, Cultural Fragmentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper explores how American identity was searched for and debated within the literature of the Modernist era, specifically following the profound societal shifts between the two World Wars.
Which literary works are analyzed in this paper?
The analysis focuses on T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land," F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby," Ernest Hemingway’s "The Sun Also Rises," and John Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath."
What is the central research question?
The author seeks to answer whether America successfully found its identity in the time of Modernism by examining how selected literature responds to the questioning or rejection of traditional beliefs.
What scientific approach does the author use?
The work employs a literary and contextual analysis, examining primary texts in relation to the historical, social, and economic conditions of the United States during the interwar period.
What core topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the transition from traditional religious and societal pillars to a period of moral ambiguity, the impact of the Great Depression, the alienation of the 'Lost Generation,' and the search for meaning amidst social decline.
How would you characterize the work’s keywords?
The keywords emphasize the tension between traditional American values and the fragmented realities of the modern age, specifically referencing the primary texts and the era's most significant socio-political challenges.
How does the author characterize the role of religion in these literary works?
The author observes that religion remains a significant presence in the psyche of the authors and characters, often used as a framework to interpret the chaos and moral dilemmas of the era.
In what way does the paper differentiate between domestic and expatriate perspectives?
The paper contrasts writers who reflect on American society from within its borders with expatriate authors like Hemingway, who sought a different vantage point to process the changes occurring back home.
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- Nicole Erdmann (Autor:in), 2017, The Search for Meaning and Identity in American Modernism, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/427381
