Many of the works we have studied this term derive from a cultural context where social imbalances are reflected in the texts (i.e., class, race, colonialism, etc.). Consider one or more texts by taking into account how they respond to their cultural and historical circumstances.
Introduction
The purpose of literary texts is to highlight the human condition. Since time immemorial, literature has recorded and brought to light several incidents of social imbalance and disparity. American literary texts are replete with colonial and feminist literature and works on racial prejudices and authoritarianism. Such texts explore and guide the various ways in which people have come to regard gender and race—how binaristic perceptions of concepts such as black and white, Christianity and Judaism, femininity and masculinity define the way people identify race, religion, and gender. Works of authors such as Mark Twain, Harper Lee, and Toni Morrison reveal how literature introduces the concepts of gender and race, which are closely related to cultural studies. Such literature exhibits how the records of history divulge the complexity in society and the imbalances within it. In The Cultural Studies Reader, Simon During recalls Richard Hoggart’s 1957 book The Uses of Literacy for showing how culture is imperative to help people identify that “one life-practice (like reading) cannot be torn out of a large network constituted by many other life-practices—working, sexual orientation, family life” (Ushmm.org). This essay considers certain literary works that reflect social imbalances from a cultural context and analyses how these texts respond to these concepts. The texts considered in this paper are Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Henry Miller’s The Colossus of Maroussi, and Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Discussion
When Ernest Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises, the World War I had recently ended. Europe was in a state of disarray as a result of the war (Warren 171). The post-war period resulted in an exchange rate advantage for the United States over Europe and thus, propelled many literary Americans, who preferred the cultural atmosphere in Paris, to base themselves in Paris (Wagner-Martin 6–9)(Warren 171). Hemingway was a part of this group, which he famously calls the “lost generation,” as most of the literary expatriates were wearied by their participation in the war (Hemingway 115). The story in this novel is set in Paris of the 1920s as the characters embark and land in Spain. It follows the lives of the characters to show how most of them were deeply affected by the war and other racial sentiments of the time.
The leading male character, James Barnes is made impotent by the war, and this was a metaphorical reference to the various human and economic disabilities the war had caused. He falls in love with a woman, Lady Brett Ashley. The fact that as the female protagonist, Brett Ashley has short hair, which was new to her generation, shows the change in gender perceptions: women had become less concerned with maintaining the stereotypical images and are more open about their sexuality. The book then studies the nature of women-man relationships. As Brett Ashley and Barnes cannot have a sexual relationship because of Barnes’ impotency, their relationship reaches a stalemate. Brett Ashley’s relationship with other men infuriates Barnes. People around him mock his inability to have a relationship with a woman with the conformity that the society advocates. The book questions the ability of a man and a woman to be truly in love without consummating their relationship. Moreover, it also questions a society that views relationships only from the point of view of sexual fedility. Towards the end of the novel, Barnes thoughts and station in life reflect the hopelessness experienced by a working man defected by the ill-effects of war. The very first words of the book speak of a Jewish character, Robert Cohn, who learns boxing to deal with the problems he faced because of his Semitic roots (Ushmm.org). This reflected the negative sentiments against the Jewish Diaspora that finally led to the World War II (Antisemitism in History: World War I). Moreover, Hemingway’s portrayal of the Cohn character leads the reader to form a character type of the “rich but unlikeable and disagreeable Jew.” There are also references to homosexuality as well. Homosexuality’s perception in America and Europe are contrasted as shown by the words used by the character Bill Gorton when he expresses his sentiments toward Barnes: “I couldn’t tell you that in New York. It’d mean I was a faggot.” Thus, this book draws a descriptive picture of the circumstances and people’s lives after the World War I. The cultural and historical aspects of the period presented in it make it a precious reminder of an earlier era.
Next, this paper considers Henry Miller’s The Colossus of Maroussi, which was written in 1939, when Miller made a trip to Greece. The book is a travelogue present with imagery and symbolism characteristic of impressionist writing. Like The Sun Also Rises, where the characters are on a trip to Spain from Paris, it also revolves around the theme of travelling and exploring. However, unlike the former, which is a story of human suffering and dilemmas, this book an advocates escapism using traveling. The need for escapism in the United States was crucial, as the effects of the Great Depression has swept across the country (Duhigg). Several such books have depicted the situation, such as Henry Millers’ other works—Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn— and John Steinbeck’s 1939 Nobel Prize winning novel, the need of escapism was the need of the common man. However, mediums like cinema and books have always been considered the ideal mode of escapism, and it was expected that they provide the people with a route to escape the stark realities of war and depression (Douglas 6). Miller wrote this book on a vacation—after he wrote the above-mentioned books that had a depression theme—escaping from angst of dealing with the subject of the Great Depression and the chaos that was soon to lead to World War II (Hoffmann 1). His state of mind in the book thus reflects the escapism he himself was trying to indulge in. During this period, the United States and the United Kingdom lashed out against the communist powers and the autocratic rulers it begot. This fight for democracy is mentioned in his work as he relates his feelings and experiences in viewing historical Greek monuments. He dwells upon the meaning of freedom and democracy at Athens, which is the place where democracy was born (Miller 209, 218). Thus, this book uses observations of the past, in this case the golden era of Greece, and attempts to analyze the era of war and depression that plagued the world during the 1930s. Moreover, its escapism theme is a requirement to people to seek to escape from the mental tribulations of war and depression without abandoning their intellectuality.
African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston’s 1937 novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God was revolutionary novel. The book is based on the life of the protagonist, Janie Crawford, who has lived through and experienced the outrages of being a black woman in a society dominated by whites and men. In the novel, the stories of Crawford’s grandmother being impregnated as a black slave in a white man’s plantation, and later of her mother being raped by her schoolteacher are all tales that resound the true situation of black women. However, Janie being a free-spirited woman, refused to accept the repression of the white people, and she endeavored to get all the pleasant things and qualities she expected in life. Janie’s mother is unable to deal with the tragedy of being raped and left pregnant with Janie. She gradually becomes an alcoholic and escapes her life by running away and leaving the young Janie in the care of her own mother, Nanny. Nanny, however, is more resilient than her own daughter. She resolves to take care of her grandmother and fulfill her own aspirations in life, which her daughter could not fulfill, through Janie. However, Nanny remains short-sighted in her view of a good life and forces Janie to marry a man an older man, Logan Killicks. She believes that such a marriage would save Janie from the destiny that she and her daughter suffered. Janie, however, proves far more ambitious of attaining some elements in life, such as love, that she considers important. She escapes her marriage to journey though Southern America and meets people and men that fulfill several of her ambitions.
It tells a story that reflects the ideology that black feminism was separate from feminism, an idea that was only accepted by the 1970s (Bell 134). The book portrays the life of a free-spirited woman who has difficulty accepting her position in a controlling society. This is indeed a true account of the societies’ atrocious behavior towards black women (Bell 135). It should also be noted that Hurston wrote the book during the Harlem Renaissance era that occurred in the 1920 and the 1930s (The Harlem Renaissance). This was a period of intense focus on black cultural revival (The Harlem Renaissance). The black were lashing against the failure of the promises made to them regarding land (The Harlem Renaissance). They were being forced to work in lowly industrial jobs (The Harlem Renaissance). While the black men fought for their civil rights, they refused to give their womenfolk similar rights (The Harlem Renaissance). Husrston’s work thus furthered the cause of the movement, by bringing the black woman’s perspective into the picture. While her book focused on the past tribulations of the blacks, it also reflected a free-spirited black woman who traveled along the countryside to discover life and herself. Furthermore, this book also explored themes such the better privilege given to colored people with lighter skin tones in comparison to that given to the black people with darker skin tones. This book thus provides a unique depiction of black women that was unfamiliar to the previous eras. It does not simply reflect the zeitgeist of the black movement, but breaks barriers to show controversial societal ills of the era.
Conclusion
This paper analyzed three literary texts to explore the cultural and historical circumstances highlighted in them. The first book was Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. This book reflected on the post World War Two era people, the nature of social imbalances the war caused, and its effect on the people. The other themes explored in the novel are male-female relationships, gender equality, and homosexuality. The next book, Henry Miller’s The Colossus of Maroussi, is seen as a contemplative reaction to the war and depression era. It was considered essential to ensure that democracy remains the prevalent mode of government in the countries of the world. Miller expresses his thoughts and views on this matter while exploring Greece, where the capital city of Athens was the birthplace of democracy. The book also imbibes need for escapism in a society encumbered by the tribulations of the World War I and the Great Depression. Finally, the last book, Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God is watershed book on the subject of black feminism. The book illustrates the life of a black woman, her family history, and her journey through Southern America to display the condition of black women in the past eras and the era of that date. This highly controversial book reflected the black cultural movement, but it also explored several issues that had still not received the attention due to them. Among many topics, she explored the subject of disparity within the black community and the need to separate black feminism for feminism, as the problems of the black women were vastly different from those of the white women.
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