📖British Literature II Unit 14 – Post-WWII Lit: Orwell and Golding

Historical Context

• Post-World War II period marked by significant social, political, and economic changes in Britain and globally
• Britain faced challenges of rebuilding after the war, including housing shortages, rationing, and economic difficulties
• The British Empire began to dissolve as former colonies gained independence (India, Pakistan)
• The Cold War emerged, creating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union
  • This led to a climate of fear and paranoia, reflected in the literature of the time
• The welfare state expanded in Britain, with the introduction of the National Health Service and other social programs
• Cultural shifts occurred, such as the rise of the "Angry Young Men" movement, which challenged traditional values and social norms
• Technological advancements, such as the development of nuclear weapons, raised concerns about the future of humanity

Key Authors and Works

• George Orwell (1903-1950)
  • "Animal Farm" (1945): An allegorical novella critiquing totalitarianism and the Soviet Union
  • "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949): A dystopian novel depicting a totalitarian society and the dangers of government control
• William Golding (1911-1993)
  • "Lord of the Flies" (1954): A novel exploring the inherent savagery of human nature through a group of boys stranded on an island
  • "The Inheritors" (1955): A novel depicting the extinction of Neanderthals and the rise of Homo sapiens
• Kingsley Amis (1922-1995)
  • "Lucky Jim" (1954): A comic novel satirizing academia and the social pressures of post-war Britain
• John Osborne (1929-1994)
  • "Look Back in Anger" (1956): A play capturing the disillusionment and frustration of the "Angry Young Men" generation
• Doris Lessing (1919-2013)
  • "The Grass is Singing" (1950): A novel examining racial tensions and the psychological effects of colonialism in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Themes and Motifs

• Totalitarianism and the abuse of power
  • Explored in Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four," highlighting the dangers of unchecked authority
• The loss of individual identity and freedom
  • Characters in Orwell's works struggle against oppressive systems that strip away their individuality
• The inherent darkness of human nature
  • Golding's "Lord of the Flies" suggests that without the constraints of civilization, humans are prone to savagery and violence
• Disillusionment with society and the establishment
  • The "Angry Young Men" movement, represented by authors like Osborne and Amis, expressed frustration with traditional values and social structures
• The psychological impact of war and violence
  • Many works explore the lasting effects of World War II on individuals and society
• The struggle for power and dominance
  • Orwell's novels depict the ruthless pursuit of power, while Golding's "Lord of the Flies" showcases the power dynamics within a group of boys
• The clash between civilization and savagery
  • Golding's works often explore the thin veneer of civilization and the potential for humans to revert to primitive behavior

Literary Techniques

• Allegory
  • Orwell's "Animal Farm" uses animals to represent different groups and ideologies in the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union
• Dystopian fiction
  • "Nineteen Eighty-Four" presents a bleak, totalitarian future society as a warning against the dangers of unchecked government control
• Symbolism
  • In "Lord of the Flies," the conch shell represents order and democracy, while the beast symbolizes the inherent evil within humans
• Irony
  • Orwell often employs irony to highlight the discrepancies between the stated goals of a system and its actual effects on individuals
• Stream of consciousness
  • Some authors, like Lessing, use this technique to convey the inner thoughts and emotions of characters
• Unreliable narrator
  • In "Nineteen Eighty-Four," the protagonist's perspective is limited and shaped by the oppressive society in which he lives
• Satire
  • Amis's "Lucky Jim" satirizes academia and the social pressures of post-war Britain, using humor to critique societal norms

Critical Analysis

• Orwell's works are often interpreted as critiques of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked government power
  • "Animal Farm" is seen as an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism
  • "Nineteen Eighty-Four" is viewed as a warning against the potential for totalitarian control in the modern world
• Golding's "Lord of the Flies" is often analyzed as a commentary on the inherent savagery of human nature
  • The novel suggests that without the constraints of civilization, humans are prone to violence and cruelty
• The "Angry Young Men" movement, represented by authors like Osborne and Amis, is seen as a reaction against the traditional values and social structures of post-war Britain
  • These works often express disillusionment with the establishment and a desire for social change
• Lessing's works, such as "The Grass is Singing," are often examined through the lens of postcolonial theory
  • Her novels explore the psychological impact of colonialism and the tensions between colonizers and the colonized
• Many post-WWII British works are analyzed in the context of the social, political, and economic changes of the time
  • Critics often consider how these works reflect and respond to the challenges and uncertainties of the post-war era

Comparative Study

• Orwell and Golding can be compared in terms of their exploration of the dark aspects of human nature
  • Both authors suggest that humans have an inherent capacity for cruelty and violence
• Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and Huxley's "Brave New World" are often compared as dystopian novels
  • While both depict oppressive societies, they differ in their methods of control (fear vs. pleasure)
• The "Angry Young Men" movement can be compared to other literary movements that challenged traditional values, such as the Beat Generation in the United States
• Lessing's works can be compared to other postcolonial literature, such as the works of Chinua Achebe or Jean Rhys
  • These authors explore the impact of colonialism on individuals and societies
• Post-WWII British literature can be compared to post-war literature from other countries, such as the United States or France
  • Comparing these works can reveal similarities and differences in how different cultures responded to the challenges of the post-war era

Cultural Impact

• Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" introduced concepts and terms that have become part of the cultural lexicon, such as "Big Brother," "doublethink," and "thoughtcrime"
  • The novel has been adapted into films, television shows, and plays, demonstrating its enduring relevance
• Golding's "Lord of the Flies" has become a staple of high school curricula, often used to teach themes of human nature and the importance of civilization
• The "Angry Young Men" movement had a significant impact on British theater and literature, paving the way for more socially and politically engaged works
• Lessing's works have contributed to the development of postcolonial literature and have inspired other authors to explore the legacy of colonialism
• Post-WWII British literature has influenced subsequent generations of writers, both in Britain and around the world
  • The themes and techniques explored in these works continue to resonate with contemporary audiences

Further Reading

• "The Road to Wigan Pier" (1937) by George Orwell
  • A non-fiction work exploring the lives of the working class in industrial northern England
• "The Inheritors" (1955) by William Golding
  • A novel depicting the extinction of Neanderthals and the rise of Homo sapiens
• "The Golden Notebook" (1962) by Doris Lessing
  • A novel exploring the political, social, and personal struggles of a woman writer
• "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner" (1959) by Alan Sillitoe
  • A short story collection depicting the lives of working-class youth in post-war Britain
• "The Quatermass Experiment" (1953) by Nigel Kneale
  • A science fiction television series that influenced the development of the genre in Britain
• "The Country Girls" (1960) by Edna O'Brien
  • A novel exploring the lives of two young Irish women and the societal pressures they face
• "The Outsider" (1956) by Colin Wilson
  • A non-fiction work examining the concept of the outsider in literature and society
• "The Angry Decade: A Survey of the Cultural Revolt of the Nineteen-Fifties" (1958) by Kenneth Allsop
  • A study of the "Angry Young Men" movement and its impact on British culture