The Mid-Twentieth century

 History of the Mid-Twentieth Century Literature

Q1. Explain The Mid-Twentieth Century in detail.

OR

Write about the chief characteristics of Mid-Twentieth Century

OR 

Explain Literary features of Mid-Twentieth Century

Answer: 

Historical Background of Mid-Twentieth century

i) Uncertainty of war and post-war years

The Uncertainty of the war and post-war years is reflected in the concern of many writers of Mid-Twentieth Century. They were not sure about the results of the war. There was vast devastation due to world war. Situation doesn't improve in post-war years too. People were migrating to peaceful lands because of that there was disintegration of society

ii) Lack of Optimism

We can easily find lack of positive thoughts in the work of literary writers. They were all pessimistic in their attitude because of the war situation. Deaths, violence, destruction brings only negativity among them. Sadism can also be one of the theme of literary writer of Mid-Twentieth century. People who involved in wars were basically sadist who were gaining pleasures from the pain of others. 

iii)  Global conflict

World war was not local but global conflict. Different countries were involved in this global conflict. There views, ideology were totally different from each other and the greed of expansion as well as desire to  rule over the world makes them fight with each other. 

iv) Nuclear Destruction

With the advancement in technology scientist were making various innovation and Nuclear Bomb was the chief weapon from powerful countries. America has used its nuclear power to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

v) Discontent Society and its material comforts

The society of Mid Twentieth Century was very much dissatisfied and basically lives in material comforts. The Rich were totally living luxurious lives whereas poor were getting more poorer.  Because of such situation New Psychological problem arises among the young generation writers. People were chasing money by hook and crook rather than living meaningful or peaceful life.

Literary Features of Mid-Twentieth Century

i) Mixture of Realism

There is mixture of Realism in the work of literary writers. They were writing with both real as well as fictional elements to make their work more interesting or entertaining. There was mirror of 20th Century Society in the novels of different writers.

ii) Dark Comedy

Dark Comedy was one of the main Genre of literature in Mid-Twentieth Century. In this form there is mockery of serious situation, painful subjects and taboos. Because of World war situation this form reach its height in this Era.

iii) Stark on Complete Individualism

Because of Cynical attitude, people were self absorbed and writing about complete individual subjects rather than dealing with the problems of others in their work of art. so many work of this era highlights stark individualism. 

iv) Science Fictions

With Great Technological Advancement, Science fictions were being written in large numbers in Mid-Twentieth Century. People were doing space exploration and with that Alien fiction came into existence. Novels about the future of the planets, or on earth increased drastically.  

v) Flood of American Fiction and Translations from foreign language

American Fiction was in infant stage in the era of Romantic, but in Mid-Twentieth Century there has been flood of great American Fictions with American Themes. There are also many translated works from foreign languages. Russian and French  philosopher's work was translated in high range. Some Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Simon de Beauvoir were great literary figures from foreign lands.

Graham Greene: The Novelist of Mid-Twentieth Century

Henry Graham Greene  (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century.He was shortlisted, in 1966 and 1967, for the Nobel Prize for Literature.Through 67 years of writing, which included over 25 novels, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivien Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He died in 1991, at age 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery.

Works:-

i)The End of the Affair

ii)The Main Within

iii) England Made me

iv)Journey without Maps

Poetry of Mid-Twentieth Century

There were abundant poetry in this Era. War Poetry again came into existence. Themes were basically Boredom, Frustration of Service life, The Waste, Appreciation of friendship and possibilities of violent death. Young generation turned to write poetry because of their experience of war. 

Dylan Thomas: The Great Poet

Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion"; the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood; and stories and radio broadcasts such as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. He became widely popular in his lifetime and remained so after his death at the age of 39 in New York City. By then he had acquired a reputation, which he had encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet".

Drama of Mid-Twentieth Century

Due to war situation Drama has faced many ups and downs. There was also closing of theater for a short period of time. Though it was reopened, but lost its dominant position in Literary world. C.E.M.A and E.N.S.A helped drama to gain its position in society. There were basically Absurd Drama which came out of War situation. After seeing the destruction of lives in wars people were questioning their existence and writing about meaninglessness and nothingness through absurd form of Drama. 

Samuel Beckett: The Great Absurd Dramatist

Samuel Barclay Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theater director, poet, and literary translator. A resident of Paris for most of his adult life, he wrote in both French and English.Beckett's literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and tragicomic experiences of life, often coupled with black comedy and nonsense. It became increasingly minimalist as his career progressed, involving more aesthetic and linguistic experimentation. He is considered one of the last modernist writers, and one of the key figures in what Martin Esslin called the Theatre of the Absurd. Beckett was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation" 

His dramatic work "Waiting for Godot" is the best example of absurdity.

Miscellaneous prose in Mid-Twentieth Century

There were great Historians who were writing about the histories of war leaders in this Era. The chief among them was H.R Trevor Roper. He has  written "The Last Days of Hitler" about the dictator of Germany Adolf Hitler.

There were also innumerable Adventurous and Escapist works by Literary figures who wants to escape from the world of chaos. The Wooden Horse by Eric William is one the example of Adventurous work. Biographies and autobiographies has also taken its lead in Mid-Twentieth Era.

Conclusion

In this way Mid-Twentieth Century writers dealt with various themes related to war in their work of art. some winters searching for an escape from destruction and wrote about totally different themes. Dylan Thomas was one among them. He was the enemy of intellectualism in his poetry. Such literary figures wants to make their reader free from the suffering.