Perspectives

Literary period

Hanif Kureishi’s short story “The Decline of the West” was first published in 2010. Because it is such a recent work, it could be considered as part of postmodernism.

The work shows many traits which are common to twenty-first century literary works. For example, the text has a theme which refers to a contemporary international event, namely the 2008 financial crisis. It has political, social, and philosophical nuances, as it raises questions about Western society and critiques the capitalist system. It reflects a confused world, where people are starting to question their basic values as a consequences of recent global events.

Also, the work relies on earlier literary styles and techniques, following a classic narrative structure and employing standard language.

Current issues

"The Decline of the West" was written during the height of the financial crisis, but despite the returning economic growth, the issues it presents are still highly relevant today. Inequality is growing in many parts of the world, and consumerism is still a major trend. Many people co...