Student Question

What are the main themes of post–Second World War American fiction, referencing The Color Purple and The Great Gatsby?

Quick answer:

Post-Second World War American fiction, as seen in The Catcher in the Rye and The Floating Opera, explores themes of nihilism and existential crises. Characters like Holden Caulfield and Todd Andrews find life meaningless and struggle with alienation. Additionally, these works critique the corruption of institutions such as law, education, and religion, reflecting a broader societal disillusionment.

Expert Answers

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Of the eight novels listed, four were written before the Second World War, and two were written decades later. The two you should discuss, therefore, are The Catcher in the Rye, first published in book form in 1951, and The Floating Opera, first published in 1956.

These two novels have much in common. Both have unreliable narrators, who are world-weary, cynical, and prone to digression. Their major thematic concerns are typical of the era, and the first among these is nihilism. Both Holden Caulfield and Todd Andrews believe that life is fundamentally meaningless and absurd. They are in the midst of existential crises that appear to be permanent, striving to find some reason to stay alive. They struggle to form meaningful relationships and habitually feel alienated from those around them.

Another important concern in the aftermath of the war is the corruption of institutions that are supposed to hold society together. Holden is a (recently expelled) student at an exclusive preparatory school. Todd, like Holden's father, is a lawyer. Both are cynical about the value of the law, education, religion, politics, and American institutional life in general.

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