THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Keywords:
authors, culture, the world war, novel, women writers.Abstract
The Second World War catalyzed a profound transformation in American
literature, compelling writers to confront the complexities of human experience amidst the
chaos of war. This article examines the diverse voices and narratives that emerged during
this tumultuous period, from the gritty realism of Ernest Hemingway to the absurdist satire
of Joseph Heller. Through a lens of moral ambiguity and memory, authors grapple with the
enduring impact of war on individual and collective consciousness, shedding light on
themes of sacrifice, identity, and the quest for belonging. Additionally, the article explores
the vital contributions of American women writers such as Virginia Woolf, Anne Frank,
and Simone de Beauvoir, whose voices resonate with poignancy and insight, offering
unique perspectives on the wartime experience.
References
Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1961.
Mailer, Norman. The Naked and the Dead. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1948.
Morrison, Toni. Home. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.
O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Smith, Betty. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1943.
Wouk, Herman. The Caine Mutiny. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1951.
