The Richness of American Literature and Culture through Its Historical and Artistic Excellence by Adnan Gujjar

 

The Richness of American Literature and Culture through Its Historical and Artistic Excellence

American Literature is rich and diverse. Though it is a part of English literature and often studied as a module by literary scholars, it stands tall due to its prime literary genius. It is both old and new. While modern scholars recognize the significance of 19th and 20th-century literature, the works from its Colonial period remain profoundly impactful. The literature written before America's independence, prior to the American Revolution of 1775, is known as Colonial American Literature. It is an eye-opening fact that, like other continents such as Africa, India, and Australia, America was also a colony. Today, however, it stands as a superpower. American Literature is unique, and like English Literature, it is enriched with the three major genres: poetry, drama, and fiction.

The major American poets celebrated around the globe include Walt Whitman (1819–1892), Robert Frost, Adrienne Rich, Sylvia Plath, Richard Wilbur, Emily Dickinson, John Ashbury, and Langston Hughes, Hemingway, WashingtonIrving, Mark Twain and F. Scott, Fitzgerald. Among them, Walt Whitman, often regarded as the national poet of America, holds a prominent place in literary history. These poets have made significant contributions to American poetry, addressing diverse thematic concerns such as feminism, nature, race, patriarchy, morality, resurrection, and regeneration. Their innovative works revolutionized American poetry and earned them enduring recognition in world literature.

Walt Whitman, known for his transformative impact on American poetry, is particularly celebrated for Leaves of Grass, a masterpiece that stands apart for its free verse and concise poetic expression. His unique style distinguishes him as one of America's greatest poets. Robert Frost (1874–1963), with his memorable lines, "And miles to go before I sleep," is a quintessential poet of nature and rural America. His works provide profound meditation and insight into the human condition. Poems like Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Mending Wall, and The Road Not Taken reflect the rich flora and fauna of the countryside and are masterpieces of philosophy and dialecticism. Sylvia Plath, a pioneer of confessional poetry, captivated readers with works like Daddy and Ariel, which offer deeply personal and vivid expressions. Similarly, Maya Angelou, known for her autobiographical style, continues to inspire with her empowering poem Still I Rise, a timeless piece that resonates with readers even decades later. Langston Hughes remains a powerful voice in American poetry for his radical and evocative themes. His poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers profoundly stirs the senses and explores the depths of cultural and historical identity. These wordsmiths have left an indelible mark on American poetry, securing their place in the annals of literature worldwide.

In the field of theater and drama, American dramatists showcase remarkable skill and talent. Their works are distinctive, and the literary community recognizes the grit and greatness of American drama. The great pillars of American drama—Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, and Sam Shepard—explore various facets of American society through their works. As the renowned English dramatist Edward Bond aptly observes, “Drama mirrors society.” Similarly, these literary geniuses reflect in their writing the experiences and realities they encounter in their social contexts.

Eugene O’Neill’s famous dialogue, “She is guilty, not medicine,” unravels the many layers of the human psyche. As the father of American drama, O’Neill’s works often highlight themes of psychological disorders and existentialism. His renowned plays, such as Mourning Becomes Electra, Long Day’s Journey into Night, and Desire Under the Elms, delve deeply into these paradigms. On the other hand, Tennessee Williams is celebrated for his dramatic works that reflect the fragile and complex nature of human relationships. His plays, including A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, explore the intricacies of the human mind, shedding light on its vulnerability and resilience.

Arthur Miller, a staunch supporter of Marxist ideals and a vocal opponent of McCarthyism, challenged the contemporary American system, leading to his imprisonment. His radical and visionary discourse distinguishes him as a playwright, as he critiqued the conventional culture of American samaj in The Crucible. Miller’s other iconic works, such as Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge, examine the concept of the American Dream; the belief that anyone, regardless of social background, class, or birth circumstances, can achieve success and prosperity through determination, dedication, and hard work.

In addition, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Zoo Story address issues of dysfunction and existentialism in society, raising awareness of these critical concerns. Similarly, Sam Shepard’s plays Buried Child, True West, and Fool for Loveexplore themes of family, identity, and the myth of the American West. While many other dramatists have made notable contributions, the writers discussed above stand out as masterful orators of their craft. They artistically beautified, defined and refined the American Theater through their skillful use of dialogue and the development of their characters, as these characters vividly bring these themes to life on stage.

American Fiction is also strong pillar of American literature. The big guns in American fiction are Toni Morison, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Earnest Hemingway, Harper Lee, Great Mark Twin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, F. ScottFitzgerald, Margaret Atwood and Alice Walker. These fictionists fictitiously and historically unpeel the different layers of the various visages of American society.  It unravels the bleak history of slave trade and migration. It also spotlights on the veracious parameters of slavery, race, ethnicity and black white clash since its birth to mid-20th Century. The Novels of great Toni MorrisonJazz, Beloved and Paradise open eye awakening awareness where modern reader reckons the brutalities, atrocities, and cruelties black people face at the time of migration. It is heart wrenching to write about the men markets where black people are sold like vegetables and fruits. They are maltreated and misbehaved since it's build up and cultivation. Morrison’s trilogy is the panic tale of black community.

Another great novelist John Steinbeck also sheds light on the bleak history of America when it's economy is crashed. He unfolds the deterioration and horrible condition of America during the Dust Bowl the era and how does it causes the Great Depression. This Great Depression is due to struggling economy of the United States of America. This incident dismantles the lives of the different states as John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath unstitches the wounds of the framers who struggles during the Great Depression. The Joad family endures significant suffering during the Great Depression. To some extent, the Great Depression mirrors modern economic struggles, as tenant farmers from Oklahoma are compelled to migrate to California a state seen as rich and prosperous at the time. California symbolized the promise of the American Dream, offering a semblance of shelter and hope to the downtrodden and disenfranchised. The same idea is explored in Of Mice and Men, where George and Lennie are disheartened by the Great Depression. While they are pursuing a bright future, their quest and dreams are shattered along the way. Their tragic tale of friendship tugs at the heartstrings of the reader.Other Writing such as Sweet Thursday, The Moon is Down, The Red Pony, The East of Eden reflect the hope and struggle of American community after the horrible impacts of World War II.

William Faulkner, another great American Nobel Prize winner, is famous for his deep and complex novels that elucidate the human condition. He is inspired by his surroundings in Mississippi and often centers his writings on the fictional setting of Yoknapatawpha County. His works, such as The Sound and the Fury, Light in August, As I Lay Dying, and Sanctuary, reveal various themes, including corruption and violence, racial prejudices, family conflicts, and memories.

The two World Wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945) are deeply embedded in American culture and cannot be erased. These wars played a pivotal role in shaping the lives of writers, such as the trench poets in England and Ernest Hemingway in America. Much of Hemingway’s writing reflects war-torn settings, particularly in Europe. His novels, such as The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls, capture the disillusionment of the Lost Generation.

The term "Lost Generation" refers to a group of American writers and intellectuals who emerged after World War I. Disillusioned with traditional values and the American Dream, the term was popularized by Gertrude Stein and later associated with Ernest Hemingway in the epigraph of his novel The Sun Also Rises. This generation, which included writers such as Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, and John Dos Passos, experienced the devastating consequences of war, the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and rapid societal changes. Their works often reflect themes of disillusionment, materialism, and the individual’s struggle to meet societal expectations in an increasingly unstable world.

Hemingway’s writings explore the impact of war and humanity’s constant struggle against fate. His novella The Old Man and the Sea embodies the central idea that “A man can be destroyed, but not defeated,” serving as a testament to human endurance and resilience. His unique prose style, characterized by brevity and directness, sets him apart from his contemporaries. Hemingway’s fiction provides fresh perspectives, offering modern readers valuable insights into his innovative techniques and distinctive use of language.

His literary work highlights themes of materialism, detachment, and the personal struggle to meet societal expectations in an unpredictable world. Hemingway’s fiction also delves deeply into the psychological effects of war, portraying the relentless struggles of human existence in times of conflict. He masterfully explores the complexities of the human psyche, emphasizing the idea that a man cannot be truly defeated as long as he continues to fight.

As a fiction writer, Hemingway’s storytelling and prose craftsmanship stand tall among his contemporaries. His use of new idioms and simple yet powerful language enhances the depth of his narratives. In The Old Man and the Sea, he writes: “Fish,” he said, “I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you before the day ends” and “I wish I had the boy.” These lines exemplify his ability to weave profound meaning into seemingly simple expressions. His literary style, characterized by strong rhetoric and radical intellect, captures the harsh realities of life. In his worldview, survival is a brutal contest—an idea he sums up in the phrase, “Eat or be eaten.

American short stories are also a significant trademark of American Literature. This fictional genre emerged in 18th and 19th century. It is sprung out from oral and traditional folklore. Short story artisans like Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, Earnest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald are tackled some of the great artificers in the field of short story writings.

 

Edgar Allan Poe another master of short story network is known for his psychological sort stories in American Literature. His short stories: The Tell-tale Heart and The Fall of Usher are full of fear, horror, terror and mystery. These stories elucidate the idea of man’s psyche and the depth of human nature. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s contribution mirror his timeless grace and grit in literary arena. His symbolic and allegorical short stories like The Minister’s Black Veil and Young Goodman Brown which reflect the thematic concerns of sin and morality. Mark Twain another master of fiction and short fiction writes regional and realistic fiction.

His short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calvarese County illustrates the humor and depth of southwest America. Earnest Hemingway, a novelist as wells short story writer accelerates the idea of short story to. His short stories capture the American society which follows lawlessness and violence. His tale The killer and Hill Like White Elephants share the idea of modernist movement. Lastly, Fitzgerald ‘s The Diamond as Big as the Ritz clearly explain the idea of wealth and American Dream. It is also admitted fact that his novel The Great Gatsby also shows the movement of American dream.

The mid-20th century was the quite significant time in American Literature. The writers like Flannery O’Connor are sprung like a lily as her Gothic themes are remarkable in American Literature. Her literary ideas such as A Good Man is Hard to Find highlights the idea of fear, horror, terror and violence highlighting the deep human nature. By the same token Shirley Jackson’s, The Lottery amazes the reader with the lurking view of atrocities, cruelties and brutalities in American Samaj. Both artist like Earnest Hemingway artistically spotlights the conflicts and intricacies of 20th century American literature.

In the contemporary American literature, the writers like Jhumpa Lahiri and Raymond Carver are sharing the issues which are being faced by the American Immigrants. Their writing reflects the identity crises in American society. Their artistic story telling showcases the idea of alienation, cultural displacement and rapidly changing human condition in America. To pack up the discussion, we can say that American literature which emerged in 19th century is remarkable and significant in its thematic approach. American writers since beginning to until now beautifully and artistically polish the American literature and its different genres like Poetry, Drama, and Fiction. American literature as a central part of English literature stands tall among Anglophone, South Asian and Post-Colonial Literature.

 

MUHAMMAD ADNAN GUJJAR

Muhammad Adnan Gujjar is a full-time lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Chenab, Gujrat. He is a poet, columnist, and the founder of a literary magazine, The Wordsmith E-Magazine. Currently, he is working on the 4^th edition of the magazine.