Literature is not important in modern society.

Yes, dear reader. You read that correctly. Literature is not important in modern society.

That is a complete lie. To those who clicked into this article and were ready to throw hands because of the title, please be rest assured that I believe this statement is absolutely false. Unfortunately, this was, and still is what I have been hearing when I tell people that I wish to pursue a further education in English Literature. Growing up in an Asian country, I am constantly exposed to the idea that only sciences or business subjects are favorable for “survival” in the highly competitive society that mainly depends on trading businesses and technological advancements. If you do humanities subjects (besides Law, of course), you are deemed a failure by parents or will be looked down upon by students and scholars who do the considerably more prestigious subjects. Yet literature, having transcended time, is one of the most important artefacts of human culture, history, and intelligence, forming the pillars of education and continue to the shape the world through its ideologies.

The Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare indirectly utilizes Hamlet in describing the importance of literature when he speaks of the purpose of plays, “to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image…” Literature is a creative outlet that can be seen as a reflection into society: to reflect the issues that pervades the streets and the voices that urge to be heard. The essence of creative literature is that they can incorporate the author’s thoughts concerning sensitive topics anonymously through the embodiment of a character. Not only does it avoids the risk of being offensive and prevents writers from facing prosecution, the author’s views are presented in such an implicit way so that readers with opposite views will not dismiss it immediately as in articles or forums, but instead will slowly ponder the author’s ideologies. A prime example of this is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, which subtly criticized and expressed his worry for the book burning practices in the United States during the McCarthy Era as he believed that it promoted ignorance and lack of knowledge. Especially in the modern world when the social issues such as LGBTQ+ and racism are more prevalent than ever, literature holds an anchored position as one of the most salient channels in raising awareness and to depict the realities within the society.

Nailing the idea deeper on the head, authors tend to use the intricacies of characterization, plot, and symbolisms to encourage readers to look beyond what was presented in their works. Not only do we get a glimpse into the societal practices or beliefs during the period when the piece was written in, literature also provokes our self-reflection and challenges our beliefs and perceptions. One example would be The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which presents a self-made man who stubbornly insists on “repeating the past”, achieving his almost too-good-to-be-true fantasies. Is the American Dream that “everything is possible in America” as powerful as we think it is? Do we also, to some extent, be as stubborn as Gatsby? The renowned philosopher Aristotle once stated that “[the arts] not only gives pleasure but is beneficial both to the constitutions and to human life”. HJ Cannatella, in his paper on the Iliad, also argues that “Poetry, for Aristotle (much like Plato), could arouse not only intense emotional responses, but equally, could inspire people to become better persons”. As the carefully fabricated characters interact with each other and with the environment, literature allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the author’s window to the world and to stand from a potentially opposite viewpoint, broadening our horizons.

Especially in this era when we are forced to face the negative emotions such as stress, depression, anxiety that has become increasingly prevalent among the community, literature serves as a form of escapism, and in more extreme cases, a reason why some people find the strength to live. Whether it is into the magical world of Harry Potter or the fantastical adventure with Alice in Wonderland, literary works allow us to take a short break from the complexities of daily life problems. We allow ourselves to immerse into a parallel world where the only boundaries are our imaginations, which, in some ways, soothe our battered mentalities and give us some quality “me-time” with our favorite characters.

Literature is an essential and timeless piece of humanity’s treasure. It reflects the essence of what it is to be human — emotions, intelligence, cultures, traditions etc. With technological advancements in recent years, the way we read has undoubtedly revolutionized too, yet the effect of the carefully woven words has not once ceased to inflict the powerful impact it has on us. It is inaccurate and unfortunate that one should evaluate the value of literature just by modern standards of what is successful and what is not — but it is never too late to start appreciating one of the most prominent foundations of the world.

Sources:

https://steemit.com/literature/@benzene/the-value-and-importance-of-literature-in-society

https://www.costercontent.co.uk/blog/writers-corner-importance-literature

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180423-how-stories-have-shaped-the-world

https://www.findcourses.co.uk/inspiration/hobby-fun-leisure-articles/the-importance-of-literature-in-modern-society-17411#:~:text=The%20impact%20of%20literature%20in,the%20world%20we%20live%20in.