“Literature not only describes reality but also adds to it.” C.S. Lewis, in this quote, very nicely explains the impact that literature has on reality, as good literary works portray the thinking patterns and norms that are dominant in any society. These valuable works are good depiction of different aspects of common man’s life. Classical literature, especially, is a healthy food for thought and a catalyst for creativity. Exposing a person to good literature is equivalent to providing him an opportunity for good education, as literature enhances one’s thinking capability and imagination. It is through reading the great literary works that one understands life. In short, literature provides an opportunity to a person to grow as a unique individual.
“Literature not only describes reality but also adds to it.” C.S. Lewis, in this quote, very nicely explains the impact that literature has on reality, as good literary works portray the thinking patterns and norms that are dominant in any society. These valuable works are good depiction of different aspects of common man’s life. Classical literature, especially, is a healthy food for thought and a catalyst for creativity. Exposing a person to good literature is equivalent to providing him an opportunity for good education, as literature enhances one’s thinking capability and imagination. It is through reading the great literary works that one understands life. In short, literature provides an opportunity to a person to grow as a unique individual.
So, what exactly is literature? The most standard and agreed upon definition is:
“Prose, poetry, drama, essays, fiction, and literary works based on philosophy, art, history, religion, culture and also scientific writings are grouped under the category of literature. Creative non-fiction of ancient times and literary journalism also fall under literature.”
Ever since the human civilization has begun on planet Earth, man has always tried to invent ways to express his thoughts and ideas to his fellow beings. From the civilizations as early as Babylon’s, literature in the form of folklore has been transmitted from generation to generation through verbal and symbolic means. After the invention of printing press in 1440 by Gutenberg, reading material that was accessible to just a few privileged people became available to common man. It brought drastic change in the intellectual development of ordinary people. Books, along with newspapers, were published and were spread among different sections of society. In Europe, great authors emerged and hence the period of Renaissance and Humanism started which gave birth to some of the most influential writings of all time.
During the later period theatre also emerged as an art, furthering the development in man’s creativity and imagination. The early authors expressed different facets of common man’s life. A case in point is Fyodor Dostoyevsky, whose fiction is closest to man’s psyche. He explored and understood the common man’s mind and conveyed his knowledge and understanding through his books. The reader is exposed to a deep ocean of knowledge regarding psychology, religion, philosophy as well as the advancement in the social fabric of the world. Thus, the thinking capability and understanding of complex matters of life is greatly improved by reading such literary works.
But the question that arises is: Is it practical for modern man to be equipped with such classical literature? With the ongoing advancement in technology and industry, is literature being suppressed by the practicality of life?
Well, to some extent, I agree. Yes, literature is being suppressed by the practicality of life. With rapid industrialization and urbanization, the priorities of man have completely changed. Now, the humans are becoming more like machines that are programmed in such a way that they always think for their material wellbeing. Modern man is more materialistic and selfish than his ancestors. In a struggle for materialistic goals, he forgets to fulfill his psychic needs which are achieved through nature, and literature is the best source to take a person closer to Mother Nature but, modern man in his mechanical life doesn’t find time for the food for thought and soul that good literature provides.
The main reason for the suppression of literature for me is commercialization. Like all other fields of life, commercialization also has a great impact on literature. Modern writers, unlike their predecessors, are more interested in making money than writing for the society and for spreading knowledge among readers. In the same way, dramatics and theatre activities are greatly changed. Theater has lost its true charm due to commercialization, and materialistic approach of the writers and the organizers who arrange it just for money and entertainment, but not for conveying literary and intellectual message.
The ongoing expansion in media, cell phones and the internet have also changed the priorities of the readers. The readers now also read just for fun, entertainment and for passing their exams.
So, the result is that they themselves are unable to produce any sort of literary work. The young generation is now more tempted towards the fantasy writers whose works lack the depth and true meaning of literature. Such contemporary work is not closer to reality and hence is just for mere entertainment. That is why, unlike the classical literature, the contemporary one is short lived.
Modern society is a world of merchants, lawyers, doctors, engineers and scientists. Modern man pursues his material happiness and physical well-being with much more success than his ancestors. But this often happens at the expense of his psychological and spiritual well-being, which is dependent on the beliefs that have now been discarded. The reason for this downfall is the suppression of literature, be it philosophical, religious, cultural or fictitious. This, in turn, results in more suppression of modern man’s intellectual expression. Thus, the cycle continues and the true meaning of literature is lost. Another great dilemma of today’s world is that literature is being used as a tool for learning languages. What is mostly forgotten is that languages are the building blocks of literature indeed, but the study of literature cannot be restricted to only studying languages - in doing so, one really suppresses the true essence of literature.
Modern man has invented ways to ease his life. A life in which reading books has lost its charm due to the expansion of electronic media, especially the cyber media and the social networks. People now are becoming more interested in reading and watching contemporary literature than becoming familiar with the classical one, which is now considered difficult, dull and non-glamorous. But, as Wolfgang Von Goethe correctly stated: “The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation.”
This can be seen in the form of new books which lack in creativity as well as in realistic and humanistic approach. The film, theatre and the music industries that have become commercialized earn billions of dollars but still their production is short lived as compared to the work of the past. Exposure to such work does not result in a positive development of human mind; rather it directs people toward the worldly pleasure and material goals.
In the end, I would like to mention a classical masterpiece, Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Frankenstein, being a modern student of science and philosophy, dares to play God and gives life to a being, which though good-natured, is betrayed by the society and hence this monster brings destruction for Frankenstein himself. The famous character Frankenstein is analogous to the modern man who is inviting his own doom by going against nature and exterminating all means of psychological and spiritual development. And, hence, modern man though superior in science and technology, is far more inferior in intellectual development, knowledge and, convictions.
For the love of reading Reading, for the purpose of recreation, is on the decline. There was a time when perusal of classical literature was a necessary part of academics in all societies. The works of classical writers like Hesiod, Homer, Sophocles, Virgil, Omer Khyyam, Maulana Jalal uddin Rumi, or more recently Chaucer, Milton and Shakespeare, intrigued and fascinated scholars from all regions of the world. Kings and sultans used to patronize poets and writers. Literary discourses were a way of life in civilized society. So what changed the trend of revering classical literature? When did it become fashionable to term the works of maestros ‘boring’?
A reason could be the advent of ‘less classical writers’ like PG Woodhouse, W. Somerset Maugham, Virginia Woolf, etc., who were more comprehendible - and more in tune with ‘modern mind’ for wont of a better term. After all, it’s a fact that we all can related to the mode and mode of our own generation. Those who grew up reading and loving Ghalib or Daagh may not appreciate modern poet like Ibne Insha or Ahmed Faraz. When Ibne Safi (late) started writing his crime/mystery series of Jassosi Duniya and Imran Series, he was mocked by his contemporaries, but today he has a comfortable niche among good writers of the Urdu language. Then again, the recently deceased Ishtiaq Ahmed captured the fancy of the kids of subsequent generations.
So, the question is: is it important to just read, or to read classical literature? An easy reply could be to each his own. For, language is a living entity; it evolves and adjusts to the requirements of its users. Those who feel classical literature is the only answer to the mankind’s problems should take into account that the present generation of English children may not like to read Shakespeare (they might not admit, as it would be sacrilege!) but are crazy about Harry Potter series. Again, that would be in contrast to what their parents grew up reading: Hardy boys and Enid Blyton.
All people are not born ‘Erudite’ (rings any bell, readers of dystopian literature?). And the purpose of reading should not always be acquiring education. What’s wrong with reading just for fun? We live in a world very different from that inhabited by our forefathers. Their realities and ours may be same and totally different simultaneously; if that makes sense!
Reading teaches, period. You can learn from a text book and from a work of fiction dissed by the scholars as trash. The person who came up with the idea of ‘communicators’ for Star Trek’s screenplay probably deserves credit for the modern cell phone, and many other inventions. What was Star Trek (books) if not a work of science fiction? So, when people claim that modern literature is divorced from reality, it is not true. There is a very fine line between imagination and reality; as Dumbledore would say, “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” So, read for the love of reading; not for the purpose of point-scoring.
-SK
