A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

The Modernist literary movement spanned from the early 1900s until the 1940s and impacted story structures, literary themes, and subject matters. The movement arose at a moment in history that was characterized by rapid change. Industrialization and capitalism were on the rise, and the authors sought to directly address the negative effects of this rapid growth. Additionally, due to the advancements in technology such as automobiles and airplanes, World War I was especially deadly. For the first time, widespread death and destruction became tangible to people back home through technology like radio and photography, which allowed for quick dissemination of news and images from the front lines.

With this, Modernist authors took on themes like confusion, isolation, and disillusionment. In adjusting to the rapidly changing modern world, many found that the constructs they once relied upon, such as religion, could no longer support their beliefs. After witnessing the harsh realities of the industrialized world and the despair and death of war, many people of the time felt a sense of disillusionment with their world. As a result, many experienced alienation as they struggled to grapple with their surroundings.

This sense of isolation and despair permeates “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place;”