Here's why and how this manifests:
* Rejection of Traditional Values: Modernist writers often felt alienated from the Victorian era's strict social norms, religious beliefs, and societal expectations. They questioned established values and explored the breakdown of traditional family structures, morality, and religious faith.
* Individualism and Alienation: Modernist literature often portrays characters who feel isolated and detached from society. They experience a sense of fragmentation, loneliness, and a struggle to find meaning and connection in a rapidly changing world.
* Emphasis on Subjectivity: Modernist writers prioritize the individual's inner experience, their thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. This focus on the subjective often leads to a feeling of disorientation and a sense of being adrift in a world that no longer makes sense.
* Fragmentation of Reality: Modernist literature frequently reflects the fragmentation of modern life through broken narratives, stream-of-consciousness techniques, and non-linear storytelling. This mirrors the breakdown of traditional social structures and the individual's struggle to find coherence in a fragmented world.
* Loss of Certainty: Modernism emerged during a period of rapid technological advancements, societal upheaval, and the questioning of traditional beliefs. This led to a widespread sense of uncertainty and a questioning of long-held assumptions about reality, truth, and morality.
Examples in Modernist Fiction:
* "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot: This iconic poem depicts a fragmented and disillusioned world where traditional values and beliefs have crumbled, leaving characters adrift and lost.
* "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf: The novel portrays a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a woman struggling to reconcile her desires and social obligations in post-war London.
* "Ulysses" by James Joyce: This complex novel explores the inner life of Leopold Bloom, a man navigating the complexities of modern Dublin, grappling with his own sense of isolation and alienation.
* "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway: The novel portrays the Lost Generation, a group of disillusioned young Americans in post-war Europe, struggling to find meaning and purpose in a world stripped of traditional values.
These examples demonstrate how Modernist fiction frequently explores the feeling of being cut loose from traditional culture and society, offering a powerful and often unsettling reflection on the complexities of modern life.