Abstract:

Modernism influenced nearly every aspect of life in the first decades of the 20th century. One of the main issues which were formed by the modernist tendencies was gender relations and roles. Because modernism meant a kind of abandonment of the traditional beliefs and social values for many intellectuals, familiar male and female attitudes began to shift considerably to the new and unusual directions due to the changing conditions from the social, economical and psychological aspects. These radical changes which were also felt in the modern literary works caused such authors as Hemingway and Fitzgerald to reflect male characters as those possessing some feminine characteristics. This study aims to prove the idea that main characters, who are male, in The Sun Also Rises (1926) by Hemingway and This Side of Paradise (1921) by Fitzgerald display the new and unfamiliar male characteristics which are generally believed to be reflected by the traditional female characters. While Jake in The Sun Also Rises (1926) has some problems in his love affair with Brett because of war wound on his male organ, Amory in This Side of Paradise (1921) cannot bring any desired happiness to his love relations which he lives with four girls at different times. In spite of their distinctive life experiences and problems, both characters basically draw attention to shaky and ambiguous masculinity in the modern period.

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