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Running head: AMERICAN LITERATURE IN THE 1920s

Lost Generations Effect on American Literature in the 1920s
Megan Vissering
South Newton High School
















AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

Abstract
In America, the early 1920s brought about many new ideas regarding choices of lifestyles and
views on society. World War I soldiers returned home to find their homeland had changed by
the emphasis of spending large sums of money very quickly. Dissatisfied with the tumultuous
relationships of friends and family members, these men turned to Europe as a way out of the
disillusion they felt. The term Lost Generation, was coined to describe the young soldiers as
well as young adults who found no self-identity in a career. Writers of this time period also
embarked on the migration to Europe with hopes of finding artistic inspiration to mold new
ideas in brilliant pieces of literature.











AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

The end of World War I left Americans unable to find meaning in life. Many of the
militarys finest knew nothing more than fighting and war tactics, leaving the majority of young
adults misplaced in a society dependent on creativity in the workplace. Citizens at home felt the
same disillusionment after hearing of the growing death rate; reckless behavior and weakened
values became common among the Lost Generation (OConnor, n.d.). According to
Montgomery College, the term Lost Generation, was coined by Gertrude Stein to describe the
inefficient skill set young Americans possessed (The Lost Generation, n.d.). Theorists believe
Stein didnt create this famous term, rather overheard a mechanic in France label his workers
as une generation perdue, a phrase explaining his workers less than desirable auto-mechanic
skills (The Lost Generation, n.d.). American authors were also characterized as a lost generation
due to their *struggle+ to understand the changes occurring in society, Americas struggles
proved irreversible and damaged the artistic abilities of key literary figures forcing innovation to
be outsourced. Influenced by Americas lack of creativity, lost generations writers embraced
literary techniques indirectly describing patterns in American life.
In the early 1920s, America stood at the peak of economic prosperity. The wealthiest
country in the world was providing jobs for all people and creating excess cash to spend on
materialistic goods such as cars and electrical kitchen equipment (historylearning, n.d.). Many
people lived grand lives, using money to fill their every desire just as expatriate F. Scott
Fitzgerald characterized in The Great Gatsby. Fitzgeralds novel mirrored American lives filled
with decadence; Jay Gatsbys wild parties filled with abundant alcohol and his erratic lifestyle
branded by distasteful morals highlighted the pitfalls of high society. Fitzgerald himself suffered
AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

from disillusionment; compulsive drinking and reckless habits pushed him farther from
normality. Sara Krauss specified that Fitzgerald was increasingly prone to drunken behavior, a
trait common in literary lost generation characters (Krauss, 2010, November 10). A loss in faith
and moral standings assumed the lives of young adults associated with the lost generation;
Hemingways The Sun Also Rises is a prime example because of the growing importance of
continual partying and drinking (OConnor, n.d.). The lost generations ideals *were+ shattered
so thoroughly by the war, that social responsibilities, such as obtaining a job, became
irrelevant (OConnor, n.d.).
Women became significant leaders in the 1920s. After continuously fighting for the
right to vote, the 19
th
Amendment was passed giving women the opportunity to seek careers
(The Culture, n.d.). Flapper trends became increasingly popular and gave women the
confidence to flaunt their sexuality. With gender roles changing, women gained educational
power and were able to compete in the workforce causing men to develop masculine anxiety,
(Yu, 2010). In Hemingways The Sun Also Rises, Brett is representing the 1920s woman; her
shared masculine and feminine define the power she has over the many male relationships she
encountered throughout the novel (Yu, 2010). As stated by Yu, lost generation writer, Earnest
Hemingway, created such a powerful female figure in his novel to make an example of, Bretts
ability to function as both the initiator and terminator of her relationships, (Yu, 2010).
Fitzgerald also utilized the idea of the new women, in The Great Gatsby, except he chose to
portray two women with differing personalities. While both Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker
possess cynical traits, Jordan is much more self-directed than Daisy. According to Women in the
20s, Daisy is more emotional, while Jordan *has+ a very arrogant attitude (Women, n.d.).
AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

Jordan characterizes the working women, one who is determined to become successful in a
career and acts similarly to Hemingways character, Brett. Daisy embodies flapper qualities
however, she differs from both Jordan and Brett because she is focused on finding the right
man in her life (Women, n.d.).
Writers during the 1920s became unstimulated by Americas materialistic values, opting
for an escape to a creative hub in Europe. According to 1920s Literature, *authors+ expressed
disappointment in the passing of old ways, because societal changes were straying from
Americas pre-war morals (1920s Literature, n.d.). Fleeing to Europe, most commonly Paris,
became rhythmic in the sense that more and more expatriates and writers chose to leave
America. Soldiers felt that they couldnt face returning to their homelands in fear that their
family and friends didnt understand the great hardships they endured while at war (Andrews,
n.d.).
Just as the heightened economy opened for a greater sense of living, the stock market
crashed in 1929. The Great Depression was a result of the economy shift and left much of the
lost generation out of work and falling into extreme poverty. The same effects were being felt
in Europe, the home of many writers and soldiers. Many of these people traveled back to their
homeland in search of family ties. Writers no longer felt the disillusionment of the past decade
because America was in a vulnerable state-a writers key inspirational tool. The Great
Depression ended the quest of writers and settled into a new era filled with the ravishing lows
of society.


AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

References
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AMERICAN LITURATURE IN THE 1920s

Yu, X. (n.d.). English Language Teaching. The New Woman in The Sun Also Rises. Retrieved
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