The Cruel Century

The post-Benjamin age of mechanical reproduction witnessed a profound transformation in the concept of love,paralleling the upheavals of the twentieth century. As society grappled with advancements in technology andscience, traditional notions of love and romance became increasingly obsolete. The disillusionment of the era,marked by two World Wars and rapid industrialization, shattered previous ideals, leaving behind a landscape ofcynicism and uncertainty. Modernism, characterized by a rejection of traditional values and an embrace ofexperimentation, reflected this shift, giving rise to complex and often nihilistic characters in literature. The secondhalf of the century ushered in the age of postmodernity, marked by fragmentation, ambiguity, and a rejection ofgrand narratives. Against this backdrop, the following chapters explore love as an ideal in an age devoid of ideals,seeking redemption in the face of existential despair.