Love in Modern and Postmodern American Literature
1. Introduction
The concept of love is not a new one, it can be traced back to the beginning of time. In fact, one could argue that love is one of the oldest themes in literature. However, the way love is portrayed in literature has changed over time. In modern and postmodern American literature, love is often portrayed in a more cynical light. This is likely due to the fact that many modern and postmodern writers have experienced love in a more negative way.
2. Love in Modern American Literature
One of the most famous examples of love in modern American literature is Scott F. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. In this novel, love is portrayed as something that is unattainable and ultimately unfulfilling. This is seen in the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby spends his entire life trying to win over Daisy, but she is never truly interested in him. Even when they are together, their relationship is filled with tension and unhappiness. Ultimately, Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy leads to his downfall.
Another example of love gone wrong can be found in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. In this novel, the protagonist Janie Crawford goes through three different marriages, each of which ends in tragedy. Janie’s first husband, Logan Killicks, treats her more like a servant than a wife. Her second husband, Joe Starks, is much more attentive to her but he is also very controlling and jealous. Finally, Janie marries Tea Cake Woods, who seems like the perfect husband at first but ultimately beats her and leaves her for dead. Through these three marriages, Janie learns that love does not always lead to happiness.
3. Love in Postmodern American Literature
In postmodern American literature, love is often portrayed as an illusion or a trap. This can be seen in the work of Edna St. Vincent Millay, who was one of the most famous poets of the early twentieth century. In her poem “Love Is Not All,” Millay portrays love as something that can never truly be understood:
“Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink.”
In other words, love cannot sustain us or protect us from the trials of life. It is something that often causes more pain than happiness.
Another example of this cynical view of love can be found in Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Less Than Zero. In this novel, the protagonist Clay tries to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend Blair, who has become addicted to drugs and prostitution. Clay quickly realizes that Blair is beyond help and that their relationship is nothing but a toxic mess. He eventually abandons her, realizing that she is doomed to a life of misery and despair. Ellis’s novel shows us that sometimes it is better to let go of someone we care about than to watch them destroy themselves (and us along with them).
4. conclusion
In conclusion, modern and postmodern writers have often taken a more cynical view of love than their predecessors. This is likely due to the fact that many of them have experienced love in a more negative way. However, even though love is often portrayed as something painful or elusive, it is still one of the most important themes in literature.