Loss Of Innocence In 20th Century British Literature

Before the beginning of World War I Great Britain was the strongest world power. They had

territories all over the world, and were expanding every day, but after both world wars Great Britain’s

station of power was spiraling downward. Ireland, among other countries, realized the low position of

Great Britain and gained their independence. The British people were forced to recognize that they were

no longer the Great power they had once been. Those who had been such romantic thinkers began to see

the reality of the effects of war on their country. As a result of the people of Great Britain being hit with

reality, loss of innocence becomes a common theme in 20th century British Literature.

The poem “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas

When Dylan Thomas wrote that he was saying that no matter how

young a person may be, and no matter how much they resist growing up and seeing the world for what it

truly is, they inevitably will see its gross imperfections. Whether it takes maturity or a war to make a

person face reality is unimportant, eventually everyone will lose his or her innocence.

Likewise, “Araby,” a short story by James Joyce, tells the story of a child moving into the

adolescent stage of life. In the beginning of the story the boy sees everything as beautiful, exciting, and full

of life, but at the end his outlook on life is changed in one moment. While he is at the bazaar, he is hit with

the realization that he is a mere child-- a nobody. This realization takes away all of his romantic fantasies,

thus, his innocence vanishes along with them.

Finally, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad embraces the more extreme side of loss of

innocence, because a man’s view of the world is shattered. He did not have childish beliefs, but instead the

belief that there was goodness and hope in the world. Marlow hears many great stories about Kurtz and

believes that he is a good man until he finally meets him. Once Marlow meets Kurtz he sees what