The Vile Bodies Essay example -- Literary Analysis, Evelyn Waugh

The postwar England of the twenties and thirties was the setting of Evelyn Waughs first satirical novels, among which was the Vile Bodies. Waugh, an origin mostly known for his highly satirical fiction, published his novel Vile Bodies in 1930 right in the middle of the time-period amongst the Great Wars. Beca hire of the historical evens that engaged England at that time, much of British Literature of the late 1920s and early 1930s was concerned with the Modernist movement, which was occupied with the persuasion of individualism of the young generation. Through the use of prominent and yet highly satirical characters, Waugh strives to criticize his Modernist generation for its unsuccessful movement into Modernism, both on the individual and political/institutional level. He does so by defining his type-characters as ignorant, self-centered and hypocritical in their disastrous movement toward individualism. Through the use of satire, the issues presented by Waugh in Vile Bodies be come greatly influenced by the time period in which the novel was written. Great Britain, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, was placed on the time line between the Great Wars. Thus, the novels placement in the history shifts its focus not only toward the emergence of the World War II but alike on the depressed postwar economy of Britain at the time. Some of the most prominent ideas evolving during this period of time were embracive of the idea of change in areas such as religion, science, art, social rules, literature and economic and political conditionschanges that most often led to a feeling of loss of community (Wellman, 327). Because of the nature and the ongoing changes during this period the idea of modernism also played a major role in Britis... ...the importance placed on individualism. For, although he blinkingly accepts whatever outrageous turn of dower he may encounter (Twayne, 43) he is still the only character that displays a feeling on emptiness and disillusionmen t about the constant search of fun that is seen in all the other characters. Adam questions the generations way of living do you ever feel that things simply cant go on much longer and states that he would give anything in the world for something different (Waugh, 273). Furthermore, he even goes as far as criticizing the never-ending parties and games as succession and repetition of massed humanity those vile bodies (Waugh, 171). Although Adam seems to have glimpses of understanding the destruction that this generation is causing, nonetheless, he feels stuck in the vicious cycle that is created by this lifestyle.