Impact of Second World War on English Literature

The Second World War had a deep and lasting effect on English literature, leading to important changes in themes, writing styles, and viewpoints. The widespread destruction and loss caused by the war made many writers question traditional beliefs and values. As a result, much of the literature from this time focuses on feelings of disillusionment, emotional trauma, and the uncertainty of human nature. Writers explored the breakdown of social norms, and their works reflected the confusion and challenges of a world recovering from conflict. From realistic depictions of everyday life to more abstract explorations of existential issues, post-war English literature became a way for authors to express the emotional and moral struggles brought on by the war. Here is how it made a remarkable influence on the literature of the age:

1. Disillusionment and Cynicism

The unprecedented scale of destruction, the horrors of the Holocaust, the use of atomic bombs, and the sheer loss of life led many writers to question the values and ideologies that had dominated Western thought, including ideas of progress, nationalism, and human morality:

What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow

Out of this stony rubbish?…”

— T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land

Hence, a deep sense of disillusionment and cynicism prevailed in the literature of the time.

There was an overwhelming sense of disillusionment concerning the ideals of progress and civilisation. Before the war, many believed in the inevitability of human progress—technological advancements, democratic governance, and industrial development were seen as indicators of a better future. However, the war shattered this belief. The very technologies and advancements that symbolized progress were used for mass destruction—nuclear bombs, advanced weaponry, and the mechanized killing seen in concentration camps. For many, the war demonstrated the fragility of civilization and the ease with which it could collapse into barbarism.

George Orwell, in his dystopian novel 1984 (published in 1949), exemplified this disillusionment. Orwell’s depiction of a totalitarian regime that uses technology to control and manipulate its citizens reflects a deep mistrust of the idea that human progress naturally leads to a better, freer society. Orwell critiques the way totalitarianism and propaganda can rise out of the ruins of war, suggesting that power and control are the true legacies of modernity, not liberty or humanism.

The war also infused a sense of cynicism towards authority and government. The failure of the League of Nations, the widespread destruction caused by nationalistic fervour, and the devastating use of state power in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia led writers to be sceptical of authority. This scepticism is visible in works like Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited (1945), where the characters express a sense of disillusionment with the moral and social authority of the old British aristocracy, often seen as conspiring or irrelevant during the crises of war.

Writers like Graham Greene also depicted this shift, focusing on themes of betrayal, moral ambiguity, and the flaws in human nature. In The Heart of the Matter (1948), Greene examines the moral dilemmas of characters caught in corrupt or failing institutions, portraying a world where simple moral choices no longer exist in the chaos that follows war.

Loss of faith in religion and spirituality also deepened this feeling of doubt and distrust. The horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of moral values seen in widespread brutality led many to question the presence of a benevolent God or divine justice. This loss of faith, combined with a growing secularism in post-war society, was a powerful undercurrent in the literature of the time. Struggling with the seeming absence of any higher purpose or order in the post-war world, writers began to explore existential themes. T.S. Eliot, who had earlier explored spiritual and existential themes in works like The Waste Land, reflected a world shattered by war, where religious structures seemed inadequate to cope with the scale of suffering.

2. Shock and Trauma

The Second World War badly affected the psychological and mental health of those who lived through it. The psychological pain that people experienced found expression in the works written during and after the war. The war left countless individuals dealing with severe mental and emotional distress. Writers reflected the personal experiences of soldiers suffering from “shell shock” (later understood as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD), as well as the anxieties of civilians enduring bombings, evacuations, and loss. These traumas were not just physical but deeply psychological, shaping much of post-war literature. In Elizabeth Bowen’s The Heat of the Day (1948), for instance, the narrative delves into the psychological impact of war on relationships, love, and trust. The characters carry deep emotional burdens, embodying the sense of paranoia (unjustified suspicion and mistrust of other people or their actions) and alienation that were common in a war-torn society.

War exposed many of the illusions people had about heroism and patriotism, leaving a deep sense of moral ambiguity. Writers used their narratives to explore how trauma caused characters to question the meaning of life and the validity of traditional values. The war created a world in which many found it hard to locate personal or social purpose, leading to an intense sense of existential anxiety and fear. Graham Greene’s The Heart of the Matter (1948) delves into the emotional and moral struggles of its protagonist, Major Scobie, as he has to deal with guilt, betrayal, and a sense of personal failure within the broader agonies of war. Greene’s works often explore the inner conflict caused by external war circumstances. The emotional strain of the war, combined with personal failings, leads to moral decay, illustrating how the trauma of war often resulted in characters who could no longer choose right from wrong. This tension between personal responsibility and the overwhelming pressures of war is a common theme in post-war literature, reflecting the widespread emotional turmoil of the time.

The war also created a sense of displacement and alienation that affected people both physically and emotionally. Literature of this period captures this feeling of not belonging—either due to being displaced from home by bombings or evacuations or by the emotional distance created by traumatic experiences. In Bowen’s work, characters often feel emotionally estranged from others, struggling with isolation despite living in densely populated cities affected by the Blitz (the German air raids on Britain in 1940–41). For many, the post-war world was unfamiliar and alienating, marked by changes in social structure and personal identity. This alienation is also evident in The Stranger (1942) by Albert Camus, although rooted in French literature, it echoes a shared existential displacement that transcended national borders during the post-war years.

In addition to social and moral failure, many writers focused on the fragmentation of the individual self. War shattered the idea of a cohesive, stable identity. This fragmentation can be seen in narrative techniques, such as the stream-of-consciousness style employed by writers like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, as well as in the fragmented, non-linear structures of many post-war novels. This technique mimics the disjointed thoughts and memories of individuals grappling with trauma. Novels like William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (1954), although more allegorical, reflect this fragmentation of human nature. The breakdown of society on a deserted island symbolises the collapse of social order and the fracturing of individual psyches that many experienced during the war.

Many works dealt with the emotional burden of survival. Those who survived the war, whether soldiers or civilians, often experienced survivor’s guilt, a complex emotional response marked by feelings of responsibility for the deaths of others or for living when so many had died. This sense of guilt pervades many post-war literary works, where characters struggle to justify their survival in a world that seems irreparably damaged.

In Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited (1945), though focused more on nostalgia and pre-war Britain, the protagonist Charles Ryder looks back on the ruins of both his personal relationships and the world he once knew. It depicts a broader social mourning for a world destroyed by war.

3. Loss of Faith in Religion and Spirituality

The widespread death, suffering, and cruelty during the war made people doubt whether a benevolent God could exist or care about humanity. This loss of faith had a strong influence on literature, where traditional beliefs were often questioned or abandoned. One of the main reasons people lost faith after the war was the “problem of evil.” The Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed, revealed the terrible side of human nature. It made people wonder how a kind and powerful God could allow such evil to happen. This question about God’s role in such suffering is reflected in many works, in which writers explored the idea that there might not be a divine power to protect and guide humans. A clear example of this in literature is William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (1954). The story is about a group of boys stranded on an island who slowly turn violent and savage. Golding shows that, without rules and society, humans can easily fall into evil behaviour. The absence of any divine guidance in the story suggests that faith in God or religion might not stop people from committing harmful acts.

After the war, many writers were influenced by existentialism, a way of thinking that focuses on the individual’s freedom to find meaning in life. This philosophy became popular because traditional religious beliefs no longer made sense to many people after the war. Existentialism teaches that life has no fixed meaning or purpose, so individuals must create their own meaning.

Jean-Paul Sartre, though a French philosopher, greatly influenced English literature during this time. He believed that people are free to make choices, but they must take responsibility for their actions because there is no God or higher power to guide them. This thinking is shown in Waiting for Godot (1953) by Samuel Beckett, where two characters wait endlessly for someone called Godot, who never comes. The play symbolises the emptiness people feel when searching for meaning or salvation in a world without God.

The war also accelerated the move towards secularism, which means living without religion. Instead of looking to religion for guidance, many writers turned to humanism, the belief that humans can create meaning and morality through their own actions and reasoning, without needing divine help. Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook (1962) reflects this change. The main character, Anna Wulf, struggles to find meaning in a world that seems chaotic after the war. The novel shows how people started relying on their own sense of morality and responsibility instead of looking to religion for answers.

Post-war poets also wrote about losing faith, often showing doubt about whether God exists or whether religion still matters in the modern world. Philip Larkin, a well-known poet of this time, often wrote about how people no longer felt connected to religion. His poem Church Going (1954) describes a visit to a church, where the speaker reflects on how churches are becoming less important in people’s lives, and wonders what will replace religion in the future. Even T.S. Eliot, a Christian poet, wrote about spiritual emptiness in his earlier poem The Hollow Men (1925). The poem shows a world where people feel broken and disconnected. There was a sense of loss that many experienced after the war. Though written before the war, Eliot’s work reveals the post-war feeling that religion no longer provided clear answers.

While many writers turned away from traditional religious beliefs, some still explored how individuals clung to faith in difficult times. Graham Greene, for example, wrote about Catholicism and the struggle with faith in a world filled with moral ambiguity. In The Heart of the Matter (1948), the main character, Major Scobie, has to manage personal guilt and religious conflict as he tries to deal with the situations of his life in a morally complex world. Greene’s books show that while faith can offer meaning, it can also demand difficult sacrifices in an imperfect world.

Some writers, after losing faith in traditional religion, sought new ways to understand life and human existence. The war made established religious ideas seem less believable, but it also led to a search for new kinds of spirituality. Writers started exploring ideas from psychology, philosophy, and even Eastern religions as alternatives to traditional Christian beliefs. Aldous Huxley, for example, turned to Eastern spiritual ideas in his later works, such as The Perennial Philosophy (1945). This book explores the shared spiritual truths found in different religions. Huxley’s interest in mysticism shows how some writers were looking beyond traditional Western religious ideas to find meaning in a post-war world.

4. War Poetry and Depiction of Disillusionment

The “War Poets”—poets who experienced the War, expressed their feelings of disappointment and despair through their writing. These poets, often soldiers themselves, rejected the idea that war was heroic or glorious. Instead, they focused on the harsh realities of life during the war, the death and destruction, and the emotional impact it had on those involved.

Before the war, many people believed that fighting for one’s country was noble and brave. However, the poets who actually fought in the war saw things very differently. They wrote about the suffering, fear, and loss they experienced on the battlefield. For them, war was not about glory or honour; it was about survival and facing the horrors of combat.

Keith Douglas, one of the most famous war poets from the Second World War, wrote about these harsh realities in his poem How to Kill. In this poem, Douglas describes the act of killing in war as a cold, emotionless task, showing how soldiers were forced to distance themselves from the humanity of their enemies. The poem reveals the deep psychological agony that war brought for those who fought, as they had to numb their feelings in order to survive. One of its lines says: “How easy it is to make a ghost…” highlighting the convenience in killing a human with a bomb.

Another poet, Henry Reed, captures the absurdity of military life in his poem Naming of Parts. Reed’s poem reflects the disillusionment many soldiers felt during the war. They were trained to kill and follow orders, but the reality of combat was far more chaotic and brutal than their training could ever prepare them for. This gap between what they were taught and what they experienced led to feelings of frustration and hopelessness.

War poets also wrote about the emotional scars (mark) left by the war. Even if a soldier survived physically, many were haunted by their experiences. The trauma of seeing friends die, witnessing destruction, and taking lives themselves left deep emotional wounds that often stayed with them for the rest of their lives.

In poems like Vergissmeinnicht (which means “Forget-me-not” in German), Keith Douglas explores the personal aftermath of killing. The poem describes a dead enemy soldier, whose photograph of a loved one is found among his belongings. Douglas reflects on the shared humanity of both the enemy and the poet, showing that, despite the violence of war, soldiers on both sides had families and lives before the war. This recognition adds to the sense of guilt and sorrow many soldiers felt after the fighting was over.

For many young soldiers, war meant the end of innocence. They entered the war with little understanding of the true horrors they would face. The poets of this time often wrote about how their experiences in the war changed them forever. They lost their youthful ideals, replaced by a stark understanding of the world’s cruelty. This loss of innocence is a common theme in war poetry, as writers express how the violence and death they witnessed destroyed their sense of hope. War became a source of deep emotional pain, not just for soldiers but also for the families and societies that were left to pick up the pieces.

Thus, the war poets’ works itself became powerful critiques of war. They did not glorify the battles or celebrate victory. Instead, they revealed the senselessness of the suffering and questioned whether war was ever truly justified. Their poems helped readers understand the true cost of war—not just in terms of lives lost, but in the emotional and psychological damage done to those who survived.

5. Absurdism and Existentialism

After the Second World War, many writers started writing around the ideas of Absurdism and Existentialism. These are philosophical ideas that became popular because of the chaotic, destructive, and unpredictable nature of the war.

Absurdism is the belief that life has no clear purpose or meaning. The war showed how quickly life could change, and how much suffering people could face, often for no reason. Writers who followed this idea suggested that trying to find meaning in life might be pointless because life itself is random and absurd and does not make sense. One famous play that shows this absurdism is Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. In this play, two characters are waiting for someone named Godot, who never arrives. They don’t know why they are waiting, and their conversations often seem meaningless. The play reflects the feeling of uncertainty and confusion that many people had after the war.

Existentialism is a way of thinking that focuses on the individual’s experience and their freedom to make choices. It suggests that life does not come with a fixed purpose or meaning; instead, people must create their own meaning through their choices and actions. After the war, many people felt unsure about the world. Existentialist writers suggested that people should not rely on external rules or traditions to guide them, but should take responsibility for their own lives. The war showed that following orders or traditions blindly could lead to terrible consequences, like violence and death.

The Second World War was so destructive that it left people feeling uncertain about many things they had once believed in, like progress, order, and morality. Writers started questioning these old beliefs, and this is where Absurdism and Existentialism became useful. Absurdism explained why life felt unpredictable and strange after the war. Existentialism offered a way for people to take control of their lives by focusing on personal choice and responsibility, even when the world seemed chaotic and absurd. The literature based on these philosophies reflected the confusion, doubt, and quest for meaning that many people experienced after the war. Instead of finding comfort in old traditions, people were encouraged to face the reality that life might not always make sense and that they had to create their own path.

6. Rise of Social Realism

After the Second World War, social realism became a significant movement in English literature. Social realism is a style of writing that focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary people, especially the working class. It often portrays their struggles, highlighting issues like poverty, inequality, and the challenges of adapting to a changing society. In post-war Britain, there were many changes. The war had damaged cities, disrupted families, and led to economic difficulties. At the same time, the government introduced new policies to rebuild the country, such as the creation of the welfare state, which provided health care, education, and support for those in need. These changes made significant influence on people’s lives, and writers began to focus on these themes in their works.

John Osborne’s play Look Back in Anger (1956) is a famous example of social realism. The play shows the frustrations of a young man named Jimmy Porter, who is angry about his lack of opportunities and the inequalities in society. His anger reflects the feelings of many people in Britain at the time, who felt left behind by the promises of a better life after the war. Another example is Alan Sillitoe’s novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1958). It tells the story of Arthur Seaton, a factory worker who rebels against the routine and restrictions of his life. The novel explores how people like Arthur, who work hard but find it difficult to cope with their frustrations.

Through social realism, these writers wanted to show the reality of life for ordinary people, often challenging the optimistic views of post-war recovery. They used realistic language and settings, avoiding romantic or idealised portrayals, to make their stories feel more truthful and relatable. This made social realism an important part of post-war English literature, as it gave a voice to people whose stories were often ignored.

7. Continuation of Modernism

Modernism, a literary movement that gained popularity in the early 20^th century, aimed to break away from traditional writing styles. Modernist writers often experimented with form, structure, and language to reflect the complexities of the modern world. This style was already being developed before the war by writers like T.S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf.

Before the Second World War, Modernism was focused on ideas such as fragmentation. Life and society were seen as broken into pieces, and this was reflected in literature. Writers often used fragmented plots and narrative styles. Another approach employed by modernist writers was the Stream of Consciousness technique. This writing technique tries to show the inner thoughts of characters in a free-flowing, often disjointed way. Virginia Woolf used this style in her novels like Mrs Dalloway.

After the war, the chaos and destruction caused by the conflict made these themes even more relevant. The war shattered the belief in a stable, predictable world. It brought about a sense of loss, uncertainty, and instability that writers wanted to express in new ways. These writers gave greater focus on fragmentation. They used even more fragmented forms of storytelling to show how life and society felt broken. T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land, although published before the war, shows this fragmentation effectively where the world is depicted as a broken, barren place. This was something many people felt even after the Second World War.

Many writers also began to question traditional values, such as the ideas of progress, religion, and national pride. They felt these values had failed to prevent the war. In post-war Modernist literature, we often see characters feeling lost or disconnected from society. Modernist writers became even more focused on the inner life of their characters. This was a way to show the deep emotional and psychological effects of the war. The outside world was uncertain and fragmented, so writers looked inward, exploring characters’ thoughts and feelings. Many writers after the war focused on the theme of alienation, which means feeling isolated or separated from society.

Following the Second World War, Modernism shifted to become more reflective of a world that seemed broken, unstable, and filled with doubt. Writers like Eliot continued to explore these themes, focusing on fragmentation, inner struggles, and questioning society’s values. This shift in Modernism allowed literature to capture the complex emotions of a world trying to rebuild itself after one of the most devastating wars in history.

8. Rise of Female Voices

After the Second World War, female voices became more prominent in English literature. Before the war, many women were expected to stay at home, caring for their families. However, during the war, with many men away fighting, women took on new roles, working in factories, offices, and other jobs. These experiences gave women more independence and changed how they viewed themselves and their place in society. As a result, after the war, female authors started writing more about their personal experiences, focusing on topics like gender roles, how women were treated, and the difficulties they faced in balancing work, family, and personal identity. The war brought about significant changes in women’s lives, and this was reflected in the stories they told.

Virginia Woolf’s essay Three Guineas criticises the way society expected women to support men during the war without giving them equal rights and opportunities. She challenges traditional gender roles and advocates for equality, linking women’s struggles to larger social issues. Other authors, like Elizabeth Bowen, also wrote about the impact of the war on women. Bowen’s The Heat of the Day explores how women’s lives were disrupted by the war and the emotional and practical challenges they faced. Her work shows that war affected not only the men fighting but also the women left behind, who had to take on new roles and responsibilities. In addition, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark, and Margaret Drabble emerged as key figures during this period. Their novels explored the emotional and social changes women experienced. They highlighted issues like identity, relationships, and the conflicts between personal desires and the expectations of the society.

The Second World War played a crucial role in establishing women representation in literature. Female authors began telling their own stories, focusing on women’s experiences and the struggles they faced in a world transformed by war. This shift gave women a new, important place in English literature.

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