Post War to Present

Question: Discuss the various conspicuous authors in their literary works tend to portray the reality of life in different ways. Answer: Introduction Literature is the reflection of reality. Various conspicuous authors in their literary works tend to portray the reality of life in different ways. Their perception, their way of expression, their realistic approach differs from each other. Christopher Isherwood and Samuel Selvon, the two contemporary novelists in the post war era have occupied a predominant place in the realm of English literature. Being contemporaries the two authors have experienced the real approaches of life in two different ways. The in-depth description of the city, Berlin is beautifully presented in the novel Goodbye to Berlin. Isherwood has identified the nature and the culture of the city as he observes it[1]. He has observed that the city Berlin is endowed with good cultural aspects. The people belonging to this particular city intend to lead a systematic lifestyle. On the other hand, the novelist has pointed out that the city Berlin is surrounded with the aspects of sexual freedom. The entire novel is end owed with a touch of happiness[2]. People love to enjoy their life by struggling with the excellence instead of the hardships. On the other hand, The Life of London by Samuel Selvon has depicted the city culture of London in a different way. The entire story has concentrated on the strenuous journey of Moses Aloetta, the real protagonist of this novel. Moses Aloetta is a migrant of London. Selvon has beautifully portrayed how this particular individual has to face immense challenges and difficulties in order to survive in the city of London[3]. The novelist has portrayed that life is not a bed of roses but a way of thorns. In order to achieve success in life, people have to face immense difficulties throughout their entire life. Moses Aloetta is a bright example of this. Therefore, the two novels namely Goodbye to Berlin and The Life of London deal with the description of two cities and their culture. The central theme and the approach are not different from each other. The two authors have described the two themes in different perspectives. Discussion Both authors differ from each other in terms of their culture and lifestyle. Their perception of life is completely different. In the novel, Goodbye to Berlin the novelist has presented the lifestyle of an upper class society of Berlin. People are well accustomed with sexual liberty. Isherwood coming from an upper-middle class background has portrayed the life style of Berlin people so well. Mosses Aloetta is the representation of Selvon in the novel The Life of London. Before acquiring fame as a successful novelist, Selvon had to pass a life, full of hardships and struggles. Mosses Aloetta is the portraiture of this reality[4]. As a migrant, this person has to face numerous obstacles to survive in London. Both the novels have maintained an episodic rhythm with an extraordinary way of expression. The storyline of Goodbye to Berlin has been set just after the First World War[5]. At that time, Hitler was holding the chair. On the other hand, The Life of London was set after the Second World War. The difference between the time sequences of these two novels is truly significant. In the era of post colonialism, the people had to face immense difficulties to lead their life successfully. The influence of the Second World War was truly commendable. Therefore, with the help of this novel, the author has portrayed the actual scenario of the after World War effect. However, the primary concern of this particular paper is to identify an in-depth relationship between identity and experience portrayed in both works namely Goodbye to Berlin and The Life of London. Relationship between identity and experience After the World War effect, Isherwood left England leaving behind his upper-middle class society and culture and moved to Berlin. Isherwood has observed the cultural liberty after entering the place. The entire environment was completely different from the life he had been living till now. While describing the city culture of Berlin, the author did not forget to mention in his novel, the theme of homosexuality, which is forms one of the major parts of this novel. Over the period of three years, the concept of homosexuality has become prevalent in different parts of Berlin. A homosexual relationship has been portrayed between the characters Otto and Peter Wilkinson[6]. The neurotic Englishman, Peter, belongs to a rich and wealthy background. On the other hand, the younger lover Otto is an out-an-out laborious individual, devoid of enough money and wealth like Peter. The argument based on the homosexuality has been considering the rights of the young generation. It is stated that young people are confident enough to be involved with a homosexual relationship. This relationship can be with a wealthy person to render the stability in their lives. The character of Otto has been portrayed in a robust way whose primary concern is to lead a healthy life rather than leading one with financial crisis. Over time, Otto understood that his relationship with Peter was no longer healthy and beneficial. Peter fails to fulfil the high needs and demands of Otto. Isherwood intends to depict that homosexuality is temporary. The relationship is thus cannot stay for long. Homosexuality has been portrayed as a source of pleasure in this novel. Peter has been indirectly represented with Isherwood, a shy and moderate person. Isherwood was very much soft hearted towards others. People, who like to lead a comfortable life, have used Isherwood in order to get benefits. The Ruegen Island is a place where people are allowed to show their sexual desires. After publishing the novel, Isherwood had to face immense criticism from his contemporaries. As per the point of view of several critics, Isherwood has demolished the rhythm of novels after showing the effects of a homosexual relationship, positively throughout the entire novel. At the same time, it is undeniable that Isherwood was the only one who highlighted the actual vista of the-then society of Berlin. It is seen that Isherwood has not attempted to conceal his sexual orientation; rather he has expressed his homosexuality by accepting it as part of regular life. At the very first page of the novel, Isherwood has commented, I am a camera with its shutter open. This statement exemplifies his approach towards homosexuality. He is not ashamed of being a homosexual, rather is free from every mental blockage. In this novel, Isherwood has tried to portray the homosexual character of Peter. Peter, a migrant from Britain, belongs to a wealthy family[7]. There are recognisable similarities between the characters of Isherwood and Peter. The sexual orientation of the two characters is same. Moreover, both of them have been experiencing cultural and liberal freedom in Berlin. Isherwood has presented a description of Ottos physical appearance. It is stated that Otto has sparkling eyes with a mischievous look. This appearance somewhat resembles a ripe peach. In fact, Isherwoods description of the physical appearance of Otto is almost similar to the explanation made by Peter. It is clear that Isherwood has a special attraction towards Otto, whereas Peter has also expressed similar feelings. It is noted that the narrator has somewhat failed to create a linking between the diversified characters. The major argument is raised against the sympathetic behaviour of Isherwood towards homosexuality. However, in spite of criticism, the concept of homosexuality is still free from all kinds of social obligations. The narrator has portrayed admiration for homosexuals who have full rights to dwell in the city. The narrator feels that there is nothing wrong in homosexuality. In Goodbye to Berlin, Isherwood has presented an extensive description of the post war society, which has been preparing for the upcoming war. The novel illustrates a clear picture of the post world war period in Berlin. The existing people have to face immense hardships during such devastating scenario. It is noticed that most of the published novels in the post World War period, have illustrated the picture of the ruthless surroundings. The novel, Goodbye to Berlin is not an exception. People started suffering due to the lack of consistency in their workplace. No one has the assurance of job stability. The insecurity in their minds has made their lives more difficult[8]. However, the novel portrays one positive side of the human mentality. In spite of this bleak scenario, people remain hopeful and cheerful. The positive attributes have helped the city to rise again by overcoming the difficulties. However, the arguments are indicating different perspectives of the people living in t he city. The city includes the people from diversified social groups and residents. In this novel, Goodbye to Berlin, Isherwood has presented the characterisation of the people with diversified perceptions. These people belong to different cultural, religious, economic, and social backgrounds. The novel thus includes the overview of the diversified cultural traits that have a significant influence on city life. Isherwood has shared the idea about his personal experiences in Berlin. He mentions about several characters with an aim to present the different characteristics and their perceptions. In the initial stage, he has illustrated the nature of his landlady, Fraulein Schroeder. She represents the emblem of an adjusting lady who can cope with every hurdle that she may come across. Moreover, she is somebody who adjusts to the emerging rules of Nazism. The sudden appearance of incidents as horrible as these has made her accustomed to such a different scenario. There is also a mention of an apartment in the novel. The apartment includes rooms for different people including a prostitute and a bar tender. This bar tender often deals with customers who are not at all trustworthy. There is one similar trait found in different characters. Each of the characters here is representing their struggle against financial crisis. The economic instability has made their life miserable. This novel includes the personal experiences of Isherwood in Berlin City. The different characters he met there have created a special impression on him. It is quite clear that the novel has been exploring the social life of the people in Berlin after the World War. He has mixed facts with fictions when describing the inner theme. There is a clear picture of the unsurpassed scenario of Berlin. Each of the characters has been indicating their survival in a situation of economic instability. Even in spite of being a foreign English teacher, Isherwood is insecure about his survival in Berlin. He could not bear the expenses of his rent, he accepted offer presented by Otto. He then starts living with Otto and his family. Isherwood faced the reality at Ottos house. He has experienced a terrible scenario of poverty in Berlin. The slums in Berlin are surrounded with dirt and pollution. However, in Berlin he meets Otto, who has the audacity to live a cheerful life even in a worst atmosphere. The Gentiles had started showing their hatred against the Jewish population and this behaviour had affected the sentiments of this Jewish family. However, Isherwood has been trying to raise his concerns against the growing enmity in the city. The emergence of such bitterness is somewhat creating a negative impact. He has been dealing with people who are culturally different. For example, the novel includes an explanation of Christians and non-Christians, Communists and Nazi, rich and poor, homosexuals and heterosexuals, Jews and Gentiles and so on. Even though the city is associated with such recognised diversity, each of the groups tries to hide their actual desire. It is simply specifying the decay of the country after being devastated by the World War. It is important to note that Isherwood has been judging the city as an outsider. Eventually, he has to confront some of the unfolded events that have been creating significant impacts on city life. He has tried to utilise his perceptions to address the situational events he has been facing in this city. The unity between the people is however lost due to the shattered scenario of the post war period. On the contrary, due to this difference, both Peter and Isherwood are attracted towards the rich cultures of the city. In presenting the holistic view of the society, Isherwood has illustrated the clear picture of the political scenario, cultural diversity, and social aspects. At the beginning of the novel, Isherwood has presented his keen interests on teaching profession. Therefore, he started to teach English to earn his expenses. The regular living styles of other dwellers are also much inspiring for him. Goodbye to Berlin is considered as an insightful collection of stories, which portray the decline of the Berlin City. The personal experiences shared by Isherwood are the major dependence of this novel. He has created a fine line between fiction and biography. He has presented himself as the protagonist who has been sharing real experiences. Isherwood has structured the introduction portion in a skilled way. Because I have given my own name to me the I of this narrative, readers are certainly not entitled to assume that its pages are purely autobiographical, or that its characters are libellously exact portraits, of living persons; Christopher Isherwood is a convenient ventriloquists dummy, nothing more. However, the similarity in the aims is found when each of the characters is running to secure their lives. It is needless to say that Isherwood has mixed the different features of the diversified people who are well aware of their ideas. Isherwood himself follows some of the actions to some extent. It is noted that he has presented himself as a detached observer. This particular trait is described perfectly by the statement, I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking. In the real scenario, it has been seen that Isherwood is surrounded with more people and events and serves as the medium of presenting perceptions. This particular novel is the collection of short stories. A number of debates are associated with this novel whatsoever. Isherwood has portrayed an image of rich society, which is full of fringe-dwellers. The characters featured in this novel have been struggling to connect their languages, status and cultural barriers. The social class is defined by explaining the colloquialisms and mannerisms in delivering the speeches. The sense of denial is also presented through a particular statement. Like everyone in Berlin, she refers continually to the political situation, but only briefly, with a conventional melancholy, as when one speaks of religion. It is quite unreal to her. She means to go to university, travel about, have a jolly good time and eventually, of course, marry. The essence of cultural attributes has been featured through this statement. One of the major significances of this novel is that Isherwood has presented the portraits of the normal people. These characters are sometime irrational and sometimes annoying, which is similar to the real life. The proper focus on the reality has made this literary work more real. The above discussion is representing the lifestyle of the society people in Berlin during the post World War period. This explanation differs from the society view of The Lonely Londoner. This particular novel describes the characterisation of the West Indian Immigrants who went to London and experienced the city life for the first time. Since, these West Indians did not experience city life previously; they became much fascinated about the city life in London. They even started dreaming of fulfilling their desires. They thought that London is a city, which will be leading them towards their aspirations. However, the reality is completely different to their expectation. London was also affected by the terrible World War like many other countries in Europe. Hence, there are challenges in securing a sustainable employment. Selvon, in his novel, The Lonely Londoners, has explained the condition of the immigrants whose expectations were broken by the ruthless reality. The West Indians had to face difficulties due to racism issues, climate, and poor living standards. In each step of their living, they had to face discriminative behaviour due to their different accent and the skin colour[9]. Due to the scarcity of work, they had to struggle harder for a job and afford their living. It is important to note that the cost of living was also different for the immigrants. People ought to struggle hard to achieve the living standards as per their expectations. If one seeks for a particular world of living, hard work is essential to make the person a member of that world. Selvon has been representing the world of the West Indian community. It is mainly describing the polarized vision of London city, which seeks for individuality. The West Indians are the people who survived with their hard works whereas other imm igrants faced the real challenges in London. In spite of struggling with such terrible scenario in London, the West Indians started formulating strategies to cope with the environment. It is already mentioned that these West Indians were much fascinated about their dreams, which they desired to fulfil in London. Hence, they started working on their dreams and tried to achieve success. They had to face the busy schedule of London city. It is needless to say that they had to face an enormous challenge to survive there. Selvon has portrayed the image of Gahalad, who was reluctant to accept the harsh reality. He tries to maintain his imaginative picture about the previous London City. Hence, the West Indians started to develop the satisfactory image of the streets and places of London. In the first place, they get the realisation of the busy schedule and the hardships associated with the city life. In such a scenario, it is very important to maintain individuality. The West Indians had to struggle to earn their living and it was important for them to find a secure place to sleep and work. They have to face all these hardships just to fulfil their dreams and they are not willing to give up. This scenario is completely different to the previous atmosphere, which was quite adjustable for the West Indians. Since, these West Indians speak the language with a different accent and possess a different skin colour; they are forced to form a different community in London[10]. They are even pushed to accept the principle of congregation via segregation. This trend is quite visible among the group of ethnic minorities. More specifically, for the black races, this issue has become much prominent. Hence, Moses has found the most illustrative way to segregate individualism by con sidering it as the lonely city. It is noted that London gradually became the city with multicultural atmosphere. It is even seen that the multicultural communities are forced to live in an isolated place. After all these consequences, the West Indians have started to realise that the image of London is far away from reality. This scenario even has created a negative impact on peoples sentiments. As a result, they wish to go back home. However, the economic obligation does not support this decision. They are not empowered with economic stability and they are forced to stay in London. At the first place, they set their aim to be economically independent. However, when reality strikes, they send the money home instead of getting settled to their natives. Moses and the other West Indian immigrants in London have started to cope with the cultural traits in London to reduce their feeling of homesickness. The Caribbean tradition serves as a chain to hold them together whereas they are separated from the other communities due to such traditions. The immigrants have started to utilize their tradition for the different purposes. For instance, Calypso is taken as the source of comfort. They usually gather together to discuss about their natives and families. The basement room is the usual place for such meeting and conversation. Sometimes, they are engaged to some of the meaningless gossips. They even talk about their future. It is somewhat helpful for them to minimise their anxiety regarding their homesickness. They are bound to stay here, as they do not have the economic stability to go back to their native places. However, London has become their motherland through such way. London is ever considered as one of the most recognizable places for the immigrants. Their experiences change their viewpoints of the city. People generally have a miss conception about the fact that London is one of the most prestigious places in the World. Most of the West Indians hesitate to visit London, as they remain confused to reveal of nature. Moses is not exceptional to that. After the Second World War, the economic stability of this city was not stable. As a result, people had to struggle immensely to collect their bread and butter. Situation became out of control. Throughout the entire novel, the novelist has highlighted the pangs and pathos of life in a metaphorical sense. An implicit comparison has been presented between the people and their hardships. In the novel, the Life of Londoner, the novelist has dealt with the subject in such a way that the people of West India can relate their life. The effect of post World War had a greater influence on the mind and psychology of the people south Indians as well. The social, economical and political condition had to face a disastrous consequence. People had to struggle twice in order to earn their food. Therefore, this particular story has depicted a vivid vista of the economic condition of the-then society. The scenic description of the entire novel is truly commendable. The residents of London were always craving for summer. The view of white women in swimwear is beautifully described in this novel. In order to make a comparative analysis between the two novels, Goodbye to Berlin and the Life of London, it can be pointed out that both novels are equally interesting from different perspectives. The lifestyle of the upper classes society and their way of leaving has wonderfully presented in Goodbye to Berlin. People in order to enjoy the mundane affairs do not hesitate to become involved in any kind of homosexual relationship. The relationship between Otto and Peter has presented this vista. The overarching term homosexuality represents the source of pleasure and luxury. The author wants to portray that human beings always tend to run behind luxury and wealth. Therefore, they never hesitate to deal with an unknown person in order to lead a luxurious life. In comparison to Goodbye to Berlin, the message in the Life of Londoner is completely different. The pangs and pathos in the life of human is the primary message of this novel. Conclusion It is truly difficult to lead a life without the assistance of a nearest and dearest one. Therefore, in order to lead a successful life, people have to overcome innumerable barriers. This scenario has been highlighting the prominent picture of reality. The hardships that the human beings have to face in their regular life have been portrayed more skilfully. Furthermore, the different scenarios of the city life after the world war have been presented through these two cities. The struggles of the human being are also aptly shown in these two texts. Hence, it can be concluded that the experiences in both in Berlin and London are quite devastating. The dream of achieving the economic stability for a respectful life is the major aim for each of the residents. The discriminations and the formulation of the separate community have become the centre aspect in this regards. 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