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How have literary themes evolved over time?

Nakia Pavlitschek

Hey there,

It's an interesting question to ponder upon how literary themes have evolved over time. I believe that the changing times had, in turn, impacted the themes that writers indulged in their works.

If we trace back to the early days of literature, themes revolved around religious beliefs, myths, and legends. People were fascinated by stories that spoke of the supernatural, divine intervention, and heroism. However, as the world moved towards modernization and industrialization, themes shifted towards socio-political issues, love, and war.

In the early 20th century, writers started exploring their inner psyche, leading to the emergence of stream-of-consciousness narratives and existentialist themes. It was an era of experimentation, with writers exploring new techniques, including fragmentation and symbolism, to represent their ideas.

As the world faced unprecedented challenges, literature emerged as a medium to express dissent. Writers started using themes such as feminism, racism, and imperialism to subvert the dominant discourse and bring about social changes. Works of writers such as Toni Morrison, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Alice Walker can be seen as attempts to voice the marginalised sections of society.

The 21st century, however, has seen a new trend emerging in literature, written by and for the millennials. The themes now revolve around social media, technology and the phenomenon called "FOMO" or 'Fear of Missing Out'. Topics such as mental health, body image, drugs, and sexuality have also been explored with more openness and acceptance.

Thus, we can see that themes in literature have evolved over time to reflect the changing times. Each era has seen new trends and techniques emerging, with writers experimenting with new techniques to express their ideas. Literature has always been a reflection of society, and as society changes, so do the themes in literature.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions or ideas to explore!