Modernism and the Human Body

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Question 5. To what extent are modernist authors interested in the human body and its senses, and what impact does this have upon their writing During the modernist period, the exploration of the human body, its limits, and the ways in which technology could be used to overcome these limits, became a main theme throughout literature. There was also an interest in the senses of the human body throughout this period. This discussion explores To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolfe, and The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad to offer examples of the how modernist authors were demonstrating interest in the human body and its senses. The focus upon the body can be attributed to the advances in medical technology, which allowed exploration of the body which was previously impossible. Before these advances in technology the body is seen as impenetrable; ‘it was […] a boundary: a doctor in 1800 would listen to a case history, with examination by touch; the live body could not be penetrated safely.’[1] However, during the late 19th and early 20th century, medical advances allowed for the safe penetration of the body, allowing new discoveries to be made and therefore evoking a renewed interest in the human form. One of the main themes throughout The Secret Agent is the fragility of the body and how easily it can be destroyed. The text is also concerned with the effects of technology upon the body. To the Lighthouse also provides an exploration of the fragility of the human body, however, the main focus of this is the fact that the body is transient; meaning death and decay of the body is inevitable. To the Lighthouse is also particularly concerned with the senses of the human body. Woolfe allows the reader to gain insight into the text through the characters senses, therefore, it can be said that the exploration of the human body and its senses were one of the main focuses of
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