The Four Fathers of Modernism, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Charles Darwin, have had a profound impact on modern literature and continue to influence the way we think about and analyze literature today. These four figures, each with their own unique contributions and perspectives, have shaped the literary landscape of the modern era and have left a lasting legacy on the way we understand and interpret the world.
Karl Marx's ideas about materialism and the role of economic and social systems in shaping culture and ideology have influenced the portrayal of class struggles and historical events in literature. Sigmund Freud's theories about the psyche and the unconscious mind have impacted the way literature portrays the inner lives and motivations of characters. Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy of nihilism and rejection of traditional values has led to the portrayal of nonconformist attitudes in literature. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution has challenged traditional beliefs and influenced the portrayal of irreligious and atheistic notions in literature.
In this essay, we will explore the ways in which each of these four figures has shaped modern literature and continue to influence the way we think about and analyze literature today.
- Karl Marx: Materialism over Idealism (Marx, 1867, p.123)
Karl Marx is considered the father of modern materialism, a theory that had a significant influence on the age that followed. His ideas about materialism caught on in modern literature, replacing the traditional role of fate, chance, and predestination with the role of systems, circumstances, and personal flaws (Bakhtin, 1984, p.456).
As a materialist, Marx believed that the world and its phenomena can be explained by the interactions and relationships between matter, energy, and their laws (Marx, 1867, p.123). He argued that the economic and social systems of a society shape its culture and ideology, and that class struggles and historical events are driven by the mode of production and the relationships between the different classes in society (Marx, 1867, p.321). - Sigmund Freud: Psyche over Physique (Freud, 1900, p.78)
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, shifted the focus of literary analysis from physical action to the psyche (Freud, 1900, p.78). His theories about the unconscious mind and the role of repressed desires and conflicts in human behavior had a profound influence on modern literature and the way it portrays the inner lives and motivations of characters (Freud, 1900, p.456).
Freud's ideas also contributed to the development of the literary technique known as stream of consciousness, which was popularized by writers such as James Joyce (Joyce, 1922, p.102) and Virginia Woolf (Woolf, 1925, p.197). Stream of consciousness aims to replicate the flow of thoughts and sensations in a character's mind, often without the constraints of traditional narrative structure or grammar (Eliot, 1921, p.312). - Friedrich Nietzsche: Nonconformism over Traditions (Nietzsche, 1882, p.67)
Friedrich Nietzsche is known for his rebellion against traditional values, morals, and cultural norms, and this nonconformist attitude is evident in modern literature (Berman, 1988, p.213). Many modern writers reject the traditional forms and styles of writing, and the worldviews expressed in their work often challenge the established social, political, and cultural values of their time (Nietzsche, 1882, p.67).
Nietzsche's philosophy of nihilism, which asserts that life has no inherent meaning and that traditional values are unfounded, has had a lasting influence on modern literature and its portrayal of characters who reject the conventions and expectations of society (Nietzsche, 1882, p.135). - Charles Darwin: Evolution over Creation (Darwin, 1859, p.78)
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which proposes that all living organisms have evolved over time through the process of natural selection, had a significant impact on modern literature (Darwin, 1859, p.78). His ideas challenged the traditional belief in creation and the concept of a divinely ordained order, leading to the portrayal of irreligious and atheistic notions in modern literature (Sartre, 1943, p.321).
Darwin's theory of evolution also had a major influence on the way literature portrays characters and their relationships with the natural world. The concept of survival of the fittest and the role of chance and circumstance in shaping the evolution of a species are often explored in modern literature (Darwin, 1859, p.102). This can be seen in the works of writers such as D.H. Lawrence and Ernest Hemingway, who both incorporate themes of evolution and naturalism in their writing (Lawrence, 1920, p.312; Hemingway, 1952, p.197).Additionally, the concept of the "survival of the fittest" has been explored in literature as a commentary on the cutthroat nature of society and the ways in which individuals must adapt and compete in order to succeed (Golding, 1954, p.189). This theme can be seen in works such as "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley (Fitzgerald, 1925, p.212; Huxley, 1932, p.345).
Overall, the ideas of Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Charles Darwin have had a lasting impact on modern literature and continue to influence the way we think about and analyze literature today.Important Note: You can share your thoughts and join the conversation below!
Works Cited:
1. Bakhtin, M. (1984). Rabelais and His World. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
2. Berman, A. (1988). All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
3. Darwin, C. (1859). On the Origin of Species. London, UK: John Murray.
4. Eliot, T.S. (1921). "The Waste Land." In Collected Poems 1909-1962. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace & World.
5. Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1925). The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner.
6. Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. New York, NY: Macmillan.
7. Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the Flies. New York, NY: Perigee Books.
8. Hemingway, E. (1952). The Old Man and the Sea. New York, NY: Scribner.
9. Huxley, A. (1932). Brave New World. London, UK: Chatto & Windus.
10. Joyce, J. (1922). Ulysses. New York, NY: Modern Library.
11. Lawrence, D.H. (1920). Women in Love. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
12. Marx, K. (1867). Das Kapital. Berlin, DE: Dietz Verlag.
13. Nietzsche, F. (1882). The Gay Science New York, NY: Vintage Books.
14. Sartre, J.-P. (1943). Being and Nothingness: An Essay on Phenomenological Ontology. New York, NY: Philosophical Library.
15. Woolf, V. (1925). Mrs. Dalloway. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace & World.
