Loss of Humanism in Peter Ackroyd's Hawksmoor

Abstract

The present research work makes an intensive study of Peter Ackroyd's novel Hawksmoor. It tries to exhibit that the lack of sympathy and a feeling of indifference towards the fellow human beings are the root causes of the insensitivity of the postmodern man. This principal issue is raised very carefully through the lens of postmodernism. The novel shows that a postmodern man is confronted by a lot of difficulties in his living. One of the protagonists Nicholas Dyer is commissioned at building seven churches in different parts of London. His happiness knows no bound as he gets an opportunity to fulfill his ambition. However, the sites of the churches are drenched with human blood. Poverty, hunger and diseases are prevalent everywhere. As such the churches stand as an irony with the suffering of human beings. A living soul is neglected and a bulk of money is invested in the construction. Another protagonist Nicholas Hawksmoor, the veteran police officer is missioned to investigate the murder case. But his detection is unfruitful. These scenarios express the true postmodern livings which are the central issue of the novel. The postmodernism is the methodology applied to conduct a research. Through the postmodernist perspective, it is find out that insensitivity of human is the cause of loss of humanism.