Essay Topic 9
Modernism is a very unique style of writing that became popular thanks to the authors of the Lost-Generation, including but not limited to F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner. Modernism, as a writing style, is characterized as breaking away from the old idea, and moving towards a contemporary mode of expression. Modernism not only challenges older ideas, but almost embraces an inversion of these older ideas. Rather the old ideas are replaced with fragmentation and isolation, thus exposing the dark reality of the world and the limits in our understanding of it. Lili Milton Ph. D. describes modernism as a style of writing that moves away from realism: “Modernist literature is an opening up of the world in all of its forms - theoretically, philosophically, aesthetically, and politically. Before Modernism, the world was thought of in a Realist's fashion- an image of reading of which projects the world in an objective fashion” (Melton, pg 1).
The modernistic style of writing is more than evident in several works of American literature, but incredibly apparent in Ernest J. Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying. Towards the beginning of this novel, a young black man named Jefferson meets two men on the way to the bar and decides to accompany them to the liquor store instead. Following an argument with the storeowner, a shootout follows, leaving Jefferson as the only survivor and the three others dead on the ground. Jefferson does not receive a fair trial and is essentially assumed guilty, thus landing him in a jail cell on charges of murder. A characteristic of modernism is the protagonist no longer coming out on top, but rather being victim to the real-world circumstances they endure. The violent beginning of the novel in itself is a display of modernism, as the main character no longer comes out on top, but faces a harsh reality of life during these racist times and ends up in jail.
Modernism is further prevalent later in the novel when the narrator, Grant, visits Jefferson in jail, only to see that the young man has lost all hope and confidence in himself and has succumb to Black Naturalism and conformed to the way whites want him to be. During their visit in jail, Jefferson has taken on a hopeless outlook on life, not even recognizing himself as a human: “That’s for youmans…I ain’t no youman…Hogs don’t give nothing. Hogs don’t leave nothing…I be glad when it’s over…Old hog get him some rest then” (Gaines 140). Jefferson’s remarks show that he has been degraded to the point of not even seeing himself as a human being, but rather a hog, or animal.
The hopelessness displayed by Jefferson during his jail-time discussion with Grant uses modernism to portray the hopeless situation this character was put in by being involved in a murder. Despite being innocent, he is not given a fair chance to trial due to the fact he is Black, and thus, undeserving of the same rights given to white citizens. The main characteristic of modernism is fragmentation and isolation, which is obvious in this scene, as Jefferson’s life has been completely fragmented due to his involvement in the murders, and as a result he is isolated from the rest of the world in a jail cell. He struggles to recognize himself as a human being, much less an equal citizen. Jefferson’s trial and time in jail reveal the dark reality of the world during these times, which is a key component to the modernistic style of writing.
Therefore, Ernest J. Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying provides a perfect example of a modernistic piece of literature through the depiction of Jefferson’s struggles with the biased legal system and the isolation he experiences during his time in jail.
Works Cited
Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Random House, 1993. Print.
Melton, Lili. “Modernism in Literature and History.” Helium. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
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