Introduction
Modernism in literature appeared at the end of the 19th century and became an essential part of world literary culture. It represents opposition to traditional academic principles and aims to change humanity’s socio-economic and political life. William Butler Yeats and Thomas Stearns Eliot are among the many writers who represent various aspects of modernism.
Yeats’ “The Second Coming”
William Butler Yeats was one of the leading modernist writers, and his work “The Second Coming” is a seminal piece of literature of the period. The poem is about a pair of opposing forces in struggle, on the one hand, the power of sound, and on the other, the influence of evil. This occurs against the backdrop of human exploitation of nature and the growing disorder worldwide. These themes convey vital characteristics of the modernist literary process, including the contradictions and complexity of the modern world, as well as spiritual and material unrest. In this work, you can see several messages about the contemporary world.
On the one hand, the poet calls for an understanding of how people spoil nature, leading to wars and disorder. On the other hand, he emphasizes that this disorder can be corrected by changing people’s actions. The poem invites readers to reflect on what is happening now and what might happen in the future.
Eliot’s “The Waste Land”
Thomas Stearns Eliot was an American writer, poet, and critic who was a prominent exponent of modernist literature. He wrote many works that reflect the main characteristics of modernism, including layered, witty styles and in-depth analyses of socio-economic themes. One of his most famous works is the poem “The Waste Land.” In this work, Eliot notes the hallmarks of modernism, including the dissonance and syllogism between one’s history and the modern world(Lehman, 2020). He examines the dialogue between the past and the present, as well as between classical and modernist ideas.
In this work, Eliot employs various modernist techniques, including quotations, dialogue, and artistic imagery, to convey his message about the real world. He analyzed society’s problems, including materialism, contradictions, and communication failures. In this way, the Badlands still makes an accurate impression on the reader as it is relevant to the modern world.
Conclusion
To sum up, representatives of modernism in literature challenge traditional literary forms, aiming to explore existing social problems and find innovative solutions. They employ new literary devices and a range of styles, lending them individuality. Therefore, modernism remains an essential literary movement that continues to enjoy great success and popularity.
Reference
Lehman, R. S. (2020). Impossible Modernism: TS Eliot, Walter Benjamin, and the Critique of Historical Reason.