Critique of Cosmopolitan Modernity in Anne Enright’sThe Forgotten Waltz

Abstract

This thesis explores Anne Enright’s The Forgotten Waltz in order to show how modernity plays role to destroy a family and how an individual is alienated from society. To analyze this point Janet Woolf’s concept of “The Invisible Flaneuse: Women and Literature of Modernity,” Marshall Berman’s idea of “The Mire of the Macadam” and also George Simmel’s concept of “The Metropolis and Mental Life” are appropriate. The two main characters of the novel Gina and Sean have been portrayed as victim of modernity. The novel presents Gina as a character who avoids other members of her own family in terms of extra marital affair with Sean. So, this research paper argues how the modernism has impacted upon women’s life. Further, it depicts how women get into problem, due to the lack of mutual respect and identity. Undoubtedly, the novel is about indifferent attitude of male towards female in the modern city. We find difference in reality and appearance in modern city. There is depression, pain and also anxiety among different characters. Woolf’s method presents methodology to create socialist modernity of female. Key words: Modernity, City, Urban Modernity, Multiple Modernities, Public Spheres, Private Sphere, Flanuer, Flaneuse