Anger And Morality In The Novels Of Kingsley Amis

The"Angry Young Men"movement is a literary movement in Britain which took place in the period after World War II, with representatives such as Kingsley Amis, John Osborne, John Wain, John Braine, and Alan Sillitoe, etc.During that period of time, Britain was struggled to redefine itself in the aftermath of World War II. Internationally, Britain itself moved from being a great imperial power to recognition of its more limited function in world affairs. Domestically, a Labor Government and a welfare state were established, new class and new values were emerging. Consequent to these changes, some young intellectuals and writers too were struggling to find a voice appropriate to the changed circumstances of the emergent postwar society. On the one hand, they were questioning of the national identity: As the role of the country changed to more domestic and localized in its scope and influence, such role would be certainly reflected in novels of the period. On the other hand, they were challenging against the contemporary social structure, class division, traditional values and conventions. These writers were from a working class or a lower-middle class origin. They were restrained by this origin in their struggles for success, and they found it very difficult to get to a higher and influential position in political, economical and academic scene. They exhibited their angers, dissatisfactions, and condemnations in their works, such as John Osborne's Look Back in Anger, Kingsley Amis'Lukcy Jim, John Braine's Room at the Top, Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and John Wain's Hurry on Down. These works shared a similar techniques and common concerns. Together they stood for youth and vitality, protested against the established order and class structure, called for the changes and rebellions against the contemporary society and fought for individual freedom, justice and equality.Although sharing the same concerns and political views, these writers were different...