14.3 Post-war disillusionment and existentialism in literature

Post-war literature grappled with the aftermath of World War II, exploring themes of disillusionment and existentialism. Writers questioned the meaning of life and traditional values, reflecting society's shattered beliefs and anxieties in the wake of global conflict.

The Angry Young Men movement and kitchen sink realism emerged, focusing on working-class lives and social issues. These movements challenged the status quo, depicting raw, realistic portrayals of British society and its struggles in the post-war era.

Existential Philosophy

Key Concepts in Existentialism

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• Existentialism emphasizes individual existence, freedom and responsibility
  • Believes that humans define their own meaning in life through free will and personal responsibility
  • Rejects the idea that the universe offers any clues about how humanity should live
• Absurdism is a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the absurdity of the human condition and the futility of searching for meaning or purpose in life
  • Argues that humans exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe (nihilism)
  • Suggests embracing the absurdity of life and finding personal meaning despite the lack of inherent meaning (existentialism)
• Alienation refers to the feeling of disconnection or estrangement from oneself, others, or society
  • Can result from the inherent absurdity and meaninglessness of life (existentialism)
  • May be exacerbated by modern industrial society, which can be dehumanizing and isolating (Marxist theory)
• Nihilism is the belief that life is meaningless and that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded
  • Rejects religious and moral principles, believing they are human constructs with no inherent truth
  • Can lead to feelings of despair, apathy, or a sense of freedom from societal expectations

Influential Existential Philosophers

• Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, and novelist
  • Emphasized the idea that "existence precedes essence," meaning that individuals must create their own meaning and essence through their choices and actions
  • Explored themes of freedom, responsibility, and bad faith (self-deception) in works like "Being and Nothingness" (1943) and "No Exit" (1944)
• Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French philosopher, author, and journalist
  • Focused on the absurdity of the human condition and the need to find personal meaning in a meaningless world
  • Explored themes of rebellion, alienation, and the search for purpose in works like "The Stranger" (1942) and "The Myth of Sisyphus" (1942)
• Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) was a French philosopher, writer, and feminist
  • Applied existentialist ideas to the experiences of women, arguing that women are often denied the freedom to define their own lives due to societal oppression
  • Explored themes of gender, sexuality, and women's liberation in works like "The Second Sex" (1949) and "The Ethics of Ambiguity" (1947)

Post-War Literature

Existential Themes in Post-War Literature

• Albert Camus' novel "The Outsider" (1942) explores themes of absurdity, alienation, and the search for meaning in a meaningless world
  • The protagonist, Meursault, is emotionally detached and indifferent to societal norms, ultimately facing execution for a seemingly arbitrary murder
  • The novel highlights the absurdity of human existence and the individual's struggle to find purpose in an indifferent universe
• Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot" (1953) is a seminal work in the Theatre of the Absurd
  • The play features two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait endlessly for the arrival of the mysterious Godot, who never appears
  • The play explores themes of existential despair, the futility of human existence, and the absurdity of life
• The Theatre of the Absurd emerged in the 1950s as a response to the existential crisis of the post-war era
  • Playwrights like Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, and Harold Pinter used unconventional, often illogical or nonsensical dialogue and plots to reflect the absurdity and meaninglessness of human existence
  • Absurdist plays often feature characters trapped in hopeless situations, struggling to find purpose or meaning in a chaotic, irrational world

Post-War Anxiety and Disillusionment

• Post-war literature often reflects the sense of anxiety, disillusionment, and loss of faith in traditional values and institutions that followed World War II
  • The horrors of the war, including the Holocaust and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, shattered belief in human progress and the inherent goodness of humanity
  • Writers grappled with the psychological and spiritual aftermath of the war, exploring themes of trauma, guilt, and the search for meaning in a world forever changed by the conflict
• The post-war era saw a rise in anti-hero protagonists and a rejection of traditional heroic narratives
  • Characters like Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" (1951) embodied the disillusionment and alienation of the post-war generation
  • These characters often struggled to find their place in a society they perceived as phony, hypocritical, or meaningless

British Social Realism

The Angry Young Men Movement

• The Angry Young Men were a group of British writers who emerged in the 1950s, known for their disillusionment with traditional British society and their portrayal of working-class life
  • Writers like John Osborne, Kingsley Amis, and Alan Sillitoe depicted the lives of rebellious, often working-class protagonists who rejected the social and political status quo
  • The movement was characterized by a raw, realistic style and a focus on social and political issues, such as class inequality, the welfare state, and the decline of the British Empire
• John Osborne's play "Look Back in Anger" (1956) is considered a seminal work of the Angry Young Men movement
  • The play features a disillusioned, working-class protagonist, Jimmy Porter, who rails against the injustices and hypocrisies of British society
  • The play's raw, emotionally charged language and its frank portrayal of domestic life and sexual relationships shocked audiences and established Osborne as a leading voice of the movement

Kitchen Sink Realism

• Kitchen sink realism was a movement in British art, literature, and film that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s
  • The term "kitchen sink" refers to the movement's focus on the domestic lives of working-class characters, often depicting the gritty realities of everyday life
  • Kitchen sink works were characterized by a realistic, often bleak portrayal of working-class environments, relationships, and struggles
• Films like "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" (1960) and "A Taste of Honey" (1961) exemplified the kitchen sink style
  • These films featured working-class protagonists navigating the challenges of poverty, relationships, and social expectations
  • The use of location shooting, regional accents, and naturalistic performances contributed to the raw, authentic feel of kitchen sink films
• Kitchen sink realism influenced later British cultural movements, such as the social realist films of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh
  • These directors continued to explore working-class lives and social issues, often using improvisational techniques and non-professional actors to achieve a sense of authenticity
  • Works like Loach's "Kes" (1969) and Leigh's "Secrets & Lies" (1996) demonstrate the ongoing legacy of kitchen sink realism in British cinema