THE MODERN AGE 1890 - 1930

An epochal change Doubts and fears about society and man’s place in the Universe were confirmed; Optimistic hopes were disappointed. Traditional values were demolished by new theories: Euclidean geometry and Newtonian physics were shown to rest on false assumptions Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity; Bergson and James rejected conventional ideas of time; Freud understood the importance of the irrational in determining people’s actions .

Historical features 1870’s and 1880’s – economic depression; By 1890 – successful modernization international competition; Competition for trade routes athmosphere of tension defensive alliances First World War (1914).

1870’s and 1880’s – Economic Depression Caused serious unemployment among the working class; Showed that “laissez-fair” would not necessarily produce benefits for everyone or serve the public good.

Economic crisis’ consequences Government’s control of the economy; State’s responsibilities in looking after poorer citizens jhgkk basis of the modern Welfare State (insurance for old-age pensions, unemployment pay and medical treatment); Marxism’s rise it offered an optimistic secure view of the future to a generation which had lost faith in the traditional virtues of liberalism and democracy.

The First World War (1914-1918) Turning point of the history of the world; It shocked a whole generation; It made many people lose their faith in liberal democracy, capitalism and the Victorian idea of progress; End of European domination of the world

Victorian’s feelings The fear that had afflicted the Victorians was religious: They were afraid that man was only a superior animal, isolated in an indifferent mechanical universe, living a life without a meaning and without God; Sense of man’s isolation in a world which did not seem to obey any divine principles; The only sure point of reference that any individual had was himself, either in a limited personal relationship with God or alone; It was for him to decide what was right and wrong and to act accordingly.

Novel in the Modern Age The sense of isolation is clear in the works of writers of the period, but it produced different responses in different cases: T. Hardy and J. Conrad were pessimists; V. Woolf, D. H. Lawrence and E. M. Forster found in personal relationship and human core a substitute for the divine love which man had lost; Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton and T. S. Eliot ignored their rational doubts and became Christians; G. B. Show and H. G. Wells found purpose and direction in trying to improve society.

Novel in the Modern Age No set of values to which writers could confidently refer to and consequently: They left their characters to speak for themselves, without interviewing to offer an alternative point of view; Moral criticism and humorous observation on the part of the another, are completely absent in the novels.