In 1905, sociologist Max Weber published 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,' a pivotal work that explored the relationship between religion and economic behavior. Weber argued that Calvinist beliefs inadvertently fostered a disciplined work ethic that contributed to the development of modern capitalism. His analysis of the 'iron cage' of bureaucracy highlighted the tensions between individual freedom and the demands of capitalist society, influencing both sociology and economic theory.

Max Weber's 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' published in 1905 provided a framework for understanding modern alienation. This concept deeply influenced 20th-century poetry, as seen in the works of poets like T.S. Eliot, who critiqued industrialism and urban anomie in their writing.