Literature in all its diverse and ever-changing glory is a profound and enduring expression of humanity. From ancient epics and philosophical treatises to novels and poetry, weaving the threads of history, culture, and personal experience creates a beautiful tapestry that captures the essence of human lives. Yet in this ever-changing world dominated by technology, rapid information exchange, and fast lives, it’s important to slow down and ponder questions such as “Why does literature persist and what role does it play in our collective existence”?
Storytelling isn't just something humans do — it's woven into the very fabric of who we are. Humans and storytelling have an intimate connection. Since the dawn of time, humans have told stories about their lives, lessons, and warnings to other fellow humans or later generations. Before we had languages and civilizations, we passed down myths, legends stories through spoken words. We painted stories on cave walls, carved them into stone, and sang them through music.
But why? Humans are pattern-seeking creatures. We look at the chaotic world around us and try to find meaning in it. Storytelling is how we make order out of this chaotic and messy world. It captures human experience - our desires, fears, tragedies, and achievements and immortalizes them.
At the very essence, literature serves as a mirror that reflects human lives, which are filled with complexities, hardships, losses, and wins. Through the written word, the author conveys the emotions, struggles, and triumphs that stand true time immemorial, The works of Homer, Shakespeare, Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, and many other thinkers and writers continue to resonate with the readers because they tap into something universal, like love, loss, identity, morality, etc. By engaging these texts, readers aren’t only entertained by mere stories but also provided a unique lens through which to examine their social lives and societies.
Literature has a unique ability to connect us with the human soul, bridging the gap between individual experiences and the collective human condition. It acts as a warm blanket for people who feel isolated, misunderstood, or alienated. One can’t find similar people in real life, but through characters, one can find camaraderie, companionship, and the feeling of belongingness. Literature is like a quiet refuge for people who feel out of place in the world around them. It’s not just about escapism but the feeling of being seen. Sometimes a fictional character understands you in a way real people never could. And in that moment, you feel less alien, less isolated. It's like finding proof that your inner world isn't as strange or wrong as you thought.
Literature acts as an archive that carries the memories of humanity, allowing future generations to understand and experience the ideologies and beliefs that have shaped the world that they’re a part of. This preservation is important for nurturing empathy and cultural continuity as it connects people across different eras and backgrounds. Ancient texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh, Mahabharata, or Homer’s Iliad preserve myths and values of bygone civilizations while contemporary works shed light on the contemporary political and social landscapes.
Another profound aspect of literature is its ability to expand imagination. Readers immerse themselves in fictional worlds, diverse perspectives, and challenge the preconceived notions of the world, and foster empathy. By putting oneself in a character’s shoes, the readers, through characters, grapple with injustice, alienation, and self-discovery, and they gain insight into the experiences that may otherwise be vastly different from their own. This imaginative empathy isn’t just an intellectual exercise but has the power to bridge social divides, bring humans together, and inspire compassion in the real world.
Literature isn’t just confined to passive reflection but is a potent tool for critique and innovation. Writers use fiction and poetry to challenge oppressive systems, question moral assumptions, and help envision an alternative future. This is seen in the works of George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, and James Baldwin. These works serve as a powerful commentary on political corruption, human degradation, gender inequality, racial injustice, homophobia, etc.. In this sense, literature acts as a catalyst for resistance and change, encouraging readers to question the status quo and imagine new possibilities.
On an existential level, literature addresses the human yearning for meaning and immortality, to fight against anonymity. In a chaotic and uncertain world, literary works provide a space for contemplation and philosophical inquiry. The intellectual musings of Albert Camus, the spiritual reflections of Rainer Maria Rilke, and the poetic mysticism of Rumi all invite readers to grapple with the fundamental questions about existence, suffering, and the divine. In doing so, literature becomes a bridge between the mundane and the eternal, offering solace and wisdom in the face of life's uncertainties.
Literature is criticized for being “impractical and useless” since critics claim it does not contribute to practical knowledge or tangible skills for survival. Some dismiss literature as mere escapism, providing no real value beyond entertainment. However, it depends on the definition of “crucial skills” and “real value”. Because literature plays a crucial role in developing critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, through reading, readers gain awareness about the world they live in.
Through writers like Orwell who try to open the eyes of the people and show how those in power use the public for their benefit and will ultimately make them mindless puppets or Virginia Woolf who wrote the first feminist book A Room of One’s Own about how imperative it is for a woman to be independent and have a room of her own to live the life she wants. Is the commercial world all a human is fit for? Is that why a man is born? To work in an office all their lives? Or is this part of another Orwellian nightmare that he warned us against? These are the questions that literature helps us think and answer.
This article about the importance of literature is incomplete without Keating’s monologue from ‘Dead Poets Society’. “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are all noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” The importance of literature is in its enchanting ability to breathe life into the deepest recesses of the human soul, cradle our collective memories, find one another in this expanse of time and space, and weave delicate threads of empathy that bind us to one another. It is the very pulse of the past civilizations, echoing through the ancient epics to the modern tales, whispering truths that transcend time. In this age of fleeting distractions and mindless digital noise, literature stands as a lighthouse guiding us back to the raw beauty and profound mysteries of existence. These aren’t just pages, through these very pages we unravel our fears, our ambitions, and people like us who breathe the very spirit we do but are disconnected from us in reality, finding solace in shared humanity that reminds us not only who we are but inspire us to who we dare to be.
Jazbia Junaid is a student pursuing English Hons. from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Edited By: Sana Faiz
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.
