Literary Masterpieces: Themes, Characters, and Social Commentary
War Poets: Voices from the Trenches
W. B. Yeats
One of the greatest English poets of the 20th century, the Irish poet W. B. Yeats wrote about the great, eternal subjects of time and change. In “Easter 1916,” he reflects on the Irish uprising, stating that “a terrible beauty is born.” This signifies that revolution is coming and that the people of Ireland have been utterly changed. Yeats also remembers those who lost their lives in the Easter Rebellion as a tribute.
Seamus Heaney
Born in Northern Ireland, Seamus Heaney‘s poetry is based on the conflict his country was experiencing at the time (Protestants vs. Catholics). In “Digging,” he explores the differences between himself and his family. While his family was deeply involved in farming, he did not want to become a farmer like his father or grandfather. He shows admiration for his father’s skill in digging the land but feels more comfortable with a pen in his hand.
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen, known for his use of pararhyme and alliteration, served in World War I and was treated for shell shock at Craiglockhart War Hospital. In “Anthem for Doomed Youth,” he portrays the deaths of soldiers marked by the sound of guns, highlighting the horror of war and the tragedy of dying in battle.
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon‘s “Suicide in the Trenches” depicts the sad reality of war, including depression, deaths, and suicides. The poem initially shows a happy boy whose life is drastically altered by war, leading him to contemplate suicide.
Novels: Journeys and Transformations
E. M. Forster: A Passage to India
Miss Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore travel to India to experience the “real” India, and Adela is to be engaged to Ronny. Their interactions with Dr. Aziz lead to complications and misunderstandings.
Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness
The story centers around Marlow, a sailor, and his journey up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, a man of great reputation and skill, particularly in the ivory trade. Marlow witnesses the brutal treatment and exploitation of the native people.
Short Stories: Lives Interrupted and Rebuilt
Chinua Achebe: “Civil Peace”
The story begins in Nigeria just after the war. The protagonist, Jonathan, manages to save his bicycle, which he turns into a taxi, earning 150 pounds. He returns to his house, finding it miraculously intact. The family works together, selling mangoes and other items to rebuild their lives. Jonathan opens a bar for soldiers and receives 20 pounds in “egg-rasher” (ex-gratia) payment from the government. That night, his family is robbed. Thieves demand 100 pounds, but he gives them the 20 he received. Afterward, their life continues as usual because, as Jonathan believes, “Nothing puzzles God.” This suggests that the robbery had more meaning to God than it did to Jonathan.
Bharati Mukherjee: “The Management of Grief”
The story revolves around a plane that took off from Canada bound for London. As it descended, it exploded due to a bomb, a terrorist attack. Shaila Bhave, a Hindu Canadian, loses her husband and two sons in the crash. Shaila recounts the emotional aftermath and its effects on her. A social worker named Judith Templeton contacts her, asking for help in reaching out to other Indian community members who also lost family. Initially, Shaila refuses, feeling torn between Western values and those of her native country. She helps a Sikh couple but then declines to assist the rest of the community.
Katherine Mansfield: “The Garden Party”
The Sheridans are a wealthy family who consider themselves superior, except for Laura, who lives in a kind of bubble, shielded from the outside world. Her cousin, Jose, is insensitive and heartless. Laura is confronted with death when she sees a dead man and finds it incredible. She now understands death as a transition to a different place. Laura believes the garden party should be canceled due to the death of Scott, the cart driver. Jose dismisses this as absurd, and her mother convinces Laura not to spoil everyone’s happiness. Guests arrive, complimenting Laura’s appearance. Her mother then asks her to deliver leftover food and lilies to the bereaved family. Laura visits the house, witnessing poverty. She wants to leave, but Mrs. Scott invites her in. She is taken to see the dead body and finds it beautiful, noting how detached he is from everything. She then returns home.
W. Somerset Maugham: “Rain”
The story involves two groups of people on a journey: the English and the Americans. Among the passengers are two missionaries, a prostitute named Sadie Thompson, and a doctor with his wife. An epidemic halts the journey of the Davidsons and Macphails, stranding them in Pago Pago. The Davidsons, missionaries aiming to convert Samoans to Christianity, associate only with the Macphails. For Dr. Macphail, religion holds little significance. They are stuck on the island for ten days and settle in. Sadie enjoys partying with American soldiers. Alfred Davidson, unable to tolerate this, tries to save her soul. Sadie rebels and is to be sent to San Francisco, where she had committed a crime years earlier. She begs the missionary to let her stay a few more days, planning to escape to Sydney. After a heated argument, she agrees to go to San Francisco. The missionary succumbs to Sadie’s charm, accosts her, and then kills himself. Sadie leaves for Sydney.
James Joyce: “Araby”
The story is about a young boy who enjoys playing with his friends but falls in love with Mangan’s sister. He experiences a new feeling: love. The girl asks if he will go to Araby, a bazaar, as she cannot. The boy promises to buy her something. He gets money from his uncle and goes to Araby, but the bazaar is closing. He lacks enough money for a nice gift and cries in frustration.
James Joyce: “The Dead”
The story begins with a party hosted by Julia and Kate Morkan. They await their favorite guest, their nephew Gabriel Conroy, and his wife, Gretta. Gabriel makes an awkward remark to the maid about her love life. Miss Ivors embarrasses Gabriel by calling him a “West Briton” for writing literary reviews for a conservative paper. She criticizes his lack of interest in his own country, Ireland, to which he replies that he is sick of it. Gretta is saddened by a song Mr. Bartell sings. After the song, she remains pensive. They leave to take a cab, and Gabriel becomes upset with Gretta for not reciprocating his romantic advances. She cries, revealing that the song reminded her of a past love who died outside her window in the cold. Gretta falls asleep, but Gabriel is left contemplating this new information.