MODERNISM AND THE CRISIS OF SELF-DISCOVERY

Abstract

This article examines the profound challenges of self-discovery in the context of modernist thought, highlighting the tension between individual identity and the rapidly changing social, cultural, and technological landscapes of the modern era. Drawing on literary and philosophical texts, the study explores how modernist sensibilities expose fragmentation, alienation, and existential uncertainty within the self. The analysis demonstrates that modernism, while often celebrated for its aesthetic innovation, simultaneously reflects a crisis of selfhood characterized by inner conflict, moral ambiguity, and the quest for authentic existence. By integrating insights from existentialist and sociological perspectives, the article underscores how modernist philosophy illuminates both the vulnerabilities and the potential for self-knowledge in an age of social flux. The findings suggest that engaging with modernist texts offers a critical lens for understanding the enduring dilemmas of identity formation, self-expression, and the pursuit of meaning in contemporary life.