World War I is one of the most gruesome events
World War I is one of the most gruesome events to occur in the history of the world. It altered the world for decades, with this shift being reflected in works of literature such as poems, sonnets, and novels. Originally expected to be “over by Christmas,” the war lasted for four years and rained brutality over humanity using warfare through advanced chemical weapons. These horrors changed the outlook of several writers in their work. Literature during this era often bitingly criticizes and reflects upon what terror the authors witnessed. The literature illustrates the transition between pre and post-war work. Dramatic shifts in economic, social, and political aspects of life occurred during the Great War (Stevenson, 13). Many authors were not afraid to speak against the flaws they saw in their society. Many soldiers used literature to understand the reality of the war and express their dissent against it. Writing and literature were used as a means of emotional outlet. For example, in Britain, when most men were drafted into war, women were forced to take the “masculine role” of industrial work to provide for their families. They, therefore, turned to writing to discuss the impact of war on the family unit. However, a decline in creative and intellectual exuberance was noticed after the War.
The book Dubliners is a collection of fifteen short stories that was first published in 1914. It was written by an Irish author, James Joyce, who studied literature in college and roamed the streets of Dublin, observing characters around him. These would later be his inspiration behind the book. The stories reflect the life in and around Dublin in the early 20th century. They are a naturalistic illustration of the Irish middle-class lives during the time. He wrote the stories when most Irish people were searching for purpose and national identity (O’Dea, 493). The characters are based on people experiencing an epiphany that creates a life-changing understanding of themselves. The stories are divided into three stages of life: childhood, adolescence, and then mature into adulthood. The writing is classified as a work of modernism because both the techniques and forms of the stories depict Dublin’s psychological crisis due to religious and political oppression.