Literature as a Mirror
Introduction
(Literature as a Mirror)
Literature is a
mirror of society. Literature indeed reflects the society, its good values and
its ills. In its corrective function, literature also mirrors the
ills of the society with a view to making the society realize its mistakes and
make amends. It also projects the virtues or good values in the society for
people to emulate. Literature, as an imitation of human action, often presents
a picture of what people think, say and do in the society. It is important to negotiate
whether Literature represents gloomy side of life than pleasant side of it. The
essay focuses on how the mirror reflects darker side of society than its binary
opposition, brighter side of society.
Representation
of Reality vs Fiction
Realism refers
to any attempt to portray life accurate. Realism in literature chronicles the
lives of ordinary people--farmers, shop keepers, waitresses, construction
workers. Realism literature is a reaction to heroism and romanticism that
portrayed unrealistic deeds by elevated members of society. Dicken’s Oliver
Twist, which represents the plight of child workers can be taken as
a best example of realism.
Fantasy
literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always
without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the
supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary
worlds.Fantasy is a subgenre of speculative fiction and is distinguished from the
genres of science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre
themes, respectively, though these genres overlap.
Writer as a
Critic of Society
“The novel, like the myth and the parable, gives a
view
of society from its contemplation of social life,
reflecting it,
mirror-like, but also reflecting upon it,
simultaneously.”
–Thiong’o
As Thiong’o
articulates, a writer reflects what he sees. As Thackrey would say, “I
refelect what I see through my eyes”, a writer writes what he percieves.
Everywriter demonstrates the society he/she lives. Thus every writer turns to
be a critic and criticizes the follies of the society.
Satire of
Society
Satire is a
technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and
corruption of an individual or a society, by using humor, irony, exaggeration,
or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and
foibles.Satire is a genre of literature, and sometimes graphic and performing
arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to
ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations,
government, or society itself into improvement. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver
Travels is one of the finest satirical works in English Literature. Swift
relentlessly satirizes politics, religion, and Western culture. Criticizing
party politics in England, Swift writes:
Marginalization
of Gender
Gender equality,
men and women having the same rights and obligations, and everyone having the
same opportunities in society, has been a topic of discussion for man and women
for centuries . For many centuries, women have used literature as a voice used
to defend their rights as women. Female authors achieved extraordinary success
in literature functioning in a culture that frowned upon female literary desire
but men still dominated the profession. Until well into the nineteenth century,
it was common for both male and female writers to publish under a pseudonym.
Fiction was a genre that was frequently published anonymously. Thus literature
is used to represent the injustice done to women. Tess of the D'Urbervilles,
COLOUR PURPLE, and Dolls house are
best example of this kind of literature.
Reflection
of Racism in Literature
The subject of
racism has been a lively topic for critical debate since approximately the
1950s, with scholars examining the treatment of various kinds of discrimination
based on race, religion, or gender in literary works—both past and present—as
well as in the attitudes of the writers themselves. Grass is singing can
be taken as a best example of literature which deals with racism. The work
reflects the white-black conflict.
Class Struggle
in literature
Class conflict,
frequently referred to as class warfare or class struggle, is the tension or
antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests and
desires between people of different classes.Literature as a mirror of life also
reflects the Class conflict of society. Some authors have quite
self-consciously addressed themselves to the humanand social problems
associated with the class struggles of capitalism and, as aresult, given us
more or less interesting expressions of the conflicts of their times. Grapes
of wrath, Justice, Silver Box are best example of this type.
Conclusion
Thus literature
reflects the society as a mirror. Satirist satirizes the follies and weaknesses
of fellow human beings inorder to refine it. Thus literature tuns to be a voice
of those who are in darker side of literature and those who are descrimiated by
Gender, Class and Race. Thus literature represents darker side of society
than brighter side of society.
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