Modernity: At What Cost?

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses three books that describe western civilization's progress toward modernism: "Kidnapped", "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Dynamics of Faith". The paper examines the characters of David in "Kidnapped" and Paul in "All Quiet on the Western Front." The paper portrays how the authors of these two novels present a dim view of a society that often embraces evil at the expense of faith and humanity. The paper notes that "Dynamics of Faith" by Paul Tillich takes a more optimistic view of the modern world and modernity.

From the Paper:

"Both of these novels take place at crucial times in history, when the world was changing in many ways. In "Kidnapped," David's life alters because of his parent's death and his circumstances change dramatically. He begins to see a side of life that can only be described as more "modern" than he was used to - filled with dangerous men with little faith or goodness in them. Stevenson seems to be saying there is great evil in the world of the 1750s - murder, slavery, arranged kidnappings, and more, and it is due to a lack of faith and Godliness in many people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. Boston: Little Brown, 1929.
• Stevenson, Robert Lous, and Rhys, Ernest, ed. Kidnapped. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1908.
• Tillich, Paul. Dynamics of Faith. New York: Harper Perennial, 1958.

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