Compare “The Weary Generations by Abdullah Hussain and The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan”Peter Childs describes the literature of the early
twentieth century as one of “not just change, but crisis”, Compare “The Weary
Generations by Abdullah Hussain and The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan”.
What is change? An
act or process through which something becomes different or radically different
(transform).
…
What is Crisis? A
stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events
especially for better or for worse is a determined turning point.
Here, we are going to explore some changes, which took
place in the 20th century under the heading “20th C Not Just Change but
Crisis”. Hence, we are grasping information about events that made difference
in the period under discussion in the sub-continent, especially in Indo-Pak
with relation to some international effects and we as students of literature
will lay special emphasis on this branch of knowledge.
Before the start of the subject century, we witness the
Victorian Age from 1832 to 1900 in England which was so long and complicated
due to its social, economic, political, and cultural aspects which continue to
make a change in coming times. It follows two World Wars as well, which make
changed the whole scenario of the world in all spheres of human life.
Literature refers to 20th C divided into two parts Modern
and Past Modern, which begin from 1900 to 1940 and 1960 to 1990 roughly. It was
also divided as a rule of thumb by World War II. Technological advancement
during the century under review allowed cheaper production of books resulting
in significant size in the publication of popular literature and trivial ones.
In contrast to the earlier part of the 20th C in which,
we witness the glory of admiration, the development of civilization, its
achievement, and growing urbanization and also saw the coming future of the
“Golden Age” in technical and social progress. It was the time that observed
the opposite attitude towards the modern life of society, as the years of two
wars, years of social and economic crisis, and growing social unrest. Economic
crisis, social problems, and disappointment in reality caused by the outcomes
of the two wars and existing social injustice influenced the consciousness of
people and influenced their inner world.
To understand the state of the society of the half of the
20th C one does not have to read contemporary as it is enough to refer to the
painting of Picasso to see the decline of morals and disillusionment.
Some other works of the time are to use the method of
personal analysis, description of the inner world, and fragmentation of
thoughts to show the reader the urgent social problems from a different angle.
Works that were discussed show the moral problems of individualism and social
alienation among different classes. Following are the examples to understand
the scenario effectively.
The Weary Generations This prizewinning 1963 novel, originally written in
Urdu by Abdullah Hussain, is an easy, vividly dramatic chronicle of the first
half-century of India’s modern history.
The appealing protagonist Naim is a peasant’s son who
grows up dazzled by the glamour and sophistication of the British Raj, fights
for Great Britain in WWI, is swept up after the war into pro-Muslim political
activity and subsequently imprisoned, and wins, then loses the love of the
beautiful girl he hopefully marries. In a devastating stroke of climactic
irony, when Independence arrives in 1947, Naim finds himself again “imprisoned”
by his caste and his loyalties: a man without a country whose fate is,
absurdly, a mirror image of India’s own.
The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan is a must-read. It is so rare
to find such a powerful, fascinating story that pays tribute to those who have
served during wartimes to protect their country and loved ones without
detouring plot-wise into the politics, and debate of whether the war was
necessary. What is special about the story were the perspectives of three
different couples from three different countries, as well as a clever showing
of Elizabeth Kubler Ross's stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining,
depression, and acceptance. Nevertheless, the story was not all gloom and doom.
Love, friendship, sacrifice, and healing are portrayed beautifully led by the
author's bold showing of God's daily role in both peaceful and terrible times.
Both above mentioned works, altogether, are rich and one
the great fictional illustrations of the contemporary time. We considered this
one of the moving human documents, in which characters and their attitudes are
contrasted beautifully by the writers. We can conclude that there was a crisis
in different spheres of life, social values caused the crisis of family values,
and the crisis of traditional values and principles as many of them seemed to
be inappropriate in a society full of vices and absurd.
Compare “The Weary Generations by Abdullah Hussain and The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan”
#Compare
#The Weary Generations
#Abdullah Hussain
#The Lost Generation
#Erica Marie Hogan
Peter Childs describes the literature of the early
twentieth century as one of “not just change, but crisis”, Compare “The Weary
Generations by Abdullah Hussain and The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan”.
What is change? An act or process through which something becomes different or radically different (transform).
…What is Crisis? A
stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events
especially for better or for worse is a determined turning point.
Here, we are going to explore some changes, which took
place in the 20th century under the heading “20th C Not Just Change but
Crisis”. Hence, we are grasping information about events that made difference
in the period under discussion in the sub-continent, especially in Indo-Pak
with relation to some international effects and we as students of literature
will lay special emphasis on this branch of knowledge.
Before the start of the subject century, we witness the
Victorian Age from 1832 to 1900 in England which was so long and complicated
due to its social, economic, political, and cultural aspects which continue to
make a change in coming times. It follows two World Wars as well, which make
changed the whole scenario of the world in all spheres of human life.
Literature refers to 20th C divided into two parts Modern
and Past Modern, which begin from 1900 to 1940 and 1960 to 1990 roughly. It was
also divided as a rule of thumb by World War II. Technological advancement
during the century under review allowed cheaper production of books resulting
in significant size in the publication of popular literature and trivial ones.
In contrast to the earlier part of the 20th C in which,
we witness the glory of admiration, the development of civilization, its
achievement, and growing urbanization and also saw the coming future of the
“Golden Age” in technical and social progress. It was the time that observed
the opposite attitude towards the modern life of society, as the years of two
wars, years of social and economic crisis, and growing social unrest. Economic
crisis, social problems, and disappointment in reality caused by the outcomes
of the two wars and existing social injustice influenced the consciousness of
people and influenced their inner world.
To understand the state of the society of the half of the
20th C one does not have to read contemporary as it is enough to refer to the
painting of Picasso to see the decline of morals and disillusionment.
Some other works of the time are to use the method of
personal analysis, description of the inner world, and fragmentation of
thoughts to show the reader the urgent social problems from a different angle.
Works that were discussed show the moral problems of individualism and social
alienation among different classes. Following are the examples to understand
the scenario effectively.
The Weary Generations This prizewinning 1963 novel, originally written in
Urdu by Abdullah Hussain, is an easy, vividly dramatic chronicle of the first
half-century of India’s modern history.
The appealing protagonist Naim is a peasant’s son who
grows up dazzled by the glamour and sophistication of the British Raj, fights
for Great Britain in WWI, is swept up after the war into pro-Muslim political
activity and subsequently imprisoned, and wins, then loses the love of the
beautiful girl he hopefully marries. In a devastating stroke of climactic
irony, when Independence arrives in 1947, Naim finds himself again “imprisoned”
by his caste and his loyalties: a man without a country whose fate is,
absurdly, a mirror image of India’s own.
The Lost Generation by Erica Marie Hogan is a must-read. It is so rare
to find such a powerful, fascinating story that pays tribute to those who have
served during wartimes to protect their country and loved ones without
detouring plot-wise into the politics, and debate of whether the war was
necessary. What is special about the story were the perspectives of three
different couples from three different countries, as well as a clever showing
of Elizabeth Kubler Ross's stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining,
depression, and acceptance. Nevertheless, the story was not all gloom and doom.
Love, friendship, sacrifice, and healing are portrayed beautifully led by the
author's bold showing of God's daily role in both peaceful and terrible times.
Both above mentioned works, altogether, are rich and one
the great fictional illustrations of the contemporary time. We considered this
one of the moving human documents, in which characters and their attitudes are
contrasted beautifully by the writers. We can conclude that there was a crisis
in different spheres of life, social values caused the crisis of family values,
and the crisis of traditional values and principles as many of them seemed to
be inappropriate in a society full of vices and absurd.
 |
#The Weary Generations
#Abdullah Hussain
#The Lost Generation
#Erica Marie Hogan
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