Modern Literature (1900-1961)

 The characteristics of Modern Literature (1900-1961) in English, primarily defining it in opposition to the preceding Victorian Age.

Main Points:

Rebellion Against Victorianism: Modern Literature emerged as a direct reaction against Victorian attitudes, ideals, and complacency. Young people at the turn of the century viewed Victorian ideals as hypocritical, mean, superficial, and stupid.

Questioning and Uncertainty: Unlike the Victorians who accepted authority and believed in permanence , the modern mind questioned everything and held that nothing was fixed or certain. Bernard Shaw is highlighted as a key figure in this "interrogative habit of the mind".

Disintegration of Values: The 20th century saw a decline in traditional values, including:

Importance of Money: Material prosperity became the basis of social standing, contrasting with earlier views that valued "things of the spirit".

Shift from Spiritual to Social Being: Modern individuals felt man was more of a social being than a spiritual one, leading to a focus on working for others and addressing industrial problems, rather than self-perfection.

Decline of Home and Family: Sentiments for the family circle diminished, with young people seeking financial independence and viewing domestic life as too narrow.

Changing Views on Love and Sex: Financial independence and increased social mixing led to sex no longer being a mystery, and love becoming more of an experience than a romance.

Impact of Science and Machinery:

Scientific Thought: Scientific truths became widely accessible, leading to a view of the universe as a "colossal blunder" and nature as a "blind, pitiless and wasteful force," causing feelings of pity, despair, or stoicism.

Machinery: While machinery brought efficiency and raised living standards, it also introduced distressing complications and compelled modern man to live by the clock.

New Reading Public and Literature's Adaptation: The State-led education of the poor classes created a new reading public with different demands and ideologies. Modern writers had to adapt their themes and techniques to appeal to this audience, sometimes even compromising their beliefs.

Lack of Common Ground: Unlike the Victorian era, modern writers and readers often lacked a shared outlook on life, leading to diverse and sometimes uncoordinated literary efforts.

Experimentation in Literature: As a result of these changes, modern literature is characterized by fundamental changes in literary technique, artistic workmanship, and aesthetic appreciation. It is described as "unique," "fascinating," "difficult to evaluate," and "full of adventures and experiments".

Themes:

Rejection of the Past: A strong theme of disavowal of Victorian values, beliefs, and artistic conventions.

Disillusionment and Uncertainty: A pervasive sense of doubt, instability, and a questioning of established truths, leading to despair or stoicism.

Materialism vs. Spirituality: The increasing dominance of financial prosperity over spiritual or moral values.

Social Consciousness: A shift from individual self-perfection to a greater awareness of social issues and a desire to work for collective good.

Adaptation and Innovation in Art: The necessity for literature to renew itself and find new forms and expressions to reflect the changed ideas, experiences, moods, and attitudes of the modern age.

Impact of Progress: The dual nature of scientific and technological advancements – bringing both blessings and complications, and profoundly altering human life and perception