The war challenged the prevailing optimism and faith in progress that had characterized the pre-war era. The scale of violence, the indiscriminate nature of modern warfare, and the collapse of old certainties created a sense of disillusionment and skepticism. Many writers and intellectuals felt that the war had exposed the absurdity and emptiness of modern civilization and that the old order had been irrevocably shattered.
The experience of the war also led to a profound sense of alienation and isolation. Millions of soldiers returned from the front lines traumatized and disillusioned, struggling to reintegrate into society. Intellectuals and writers, too, felt alienated from a society that seemed to have embraced materialism, consumerism, and a superficial pursuit of pleasure.
This sense of alienation and meaninglessness was further compounded by the rapid social and technological changes that were taking place in the 1920s. Urbanization, industrialization, and the rise of mass culture contributed to a feeling of fragmentation and loss of individual identity. Many writers and intellectuals felt like outsiders, unable to connect with the mainstream values and aspirations of their time.
As a result, the 1920s witnessed a significant shift in literary and intellectual culture. Modernist and avant-garde movements emerged, rejecting traditional forms and structures in favor of experimentation and innovation. Writers such as T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf explored themes of fragmentation, alienation, and the search for meaning in a seemingly chaotic and meaningless world.
In conclusion, the most influential event that shaped the attitudes of writers and intellectuals during the 1920s, leading to a sense of meaninglessness and alienation, was World War I. The war's devastating impact on society, the loss of faith in traditional beliefs, and the experience of alienation and isolation profoundly influenced the literary and intellectual landscape of the era.