How Literature Reflects Communities

How literature reflects communities

Many authors have used literature to reflect communities, and how societies and individuals affect each other. "Literature has been used to reflect communities by the context of settings, time, culture, beliefs, and attitudes." (Terri 2008) Literature makes use of language as a tool that signifies what it feels like to be in particular setting. For this matter, literature has helped to create experience. Through the literature we are able to learn new world at different time periods. "From the newly found ideas and knowledge we are made to have a positive relationship with rest of communities whose life style is different from ours." (Terri 2008)

Literature is dramatic with its adaptations and descriptions of different communities. A story that involves description of relationship between people's societies makes a reader to be enlightened on that aspect. A reader learns the way of life of other communities and how such life style contrast with theirs. From literature people gain intellectual perception and learn compassion of other people. "Regardless of whether those stories we read are truth or fiction, their literature components have a way of impacting and reaching out our process of thinking no matter how the story may be fantastical" (Terri 2008)

In metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the reader is soon spun into a shocking dream-like world, "in which a normal, everyday, and possibly even dull man is turned into a humongous insect." (DiYanni, 2007, p. 612) What immediately becomes most interesting aspect of this story is the depth of his life other than becoming a bug. "This man offered great care to his family, paid the debts of his father, provided basic needs to his sister, and parents that they were unable to provide by themselves." (Diyanni, 2007, p. 613) The man did not complain of any of this apparent injustice. However, he gleefully embraced the tedious role that he had to fulfill. The irony in this story is depicted when the man horribly got transformed where his family abused and neglected him, and began to seek ways on how to settle down their bills. This story leads us into a sorrowful life of the man whose importance in the family was only to work for the other family members. "And when he came to his death as a hideous insect unable to care for his family any longer, it seemed as if this existence was less horrifying than the one he led before." (Diyanni, 2007, p. 641) The reflection of this story to readers is how they treat their families, and how it important to be responsible for other people regardless of adverse situations or hardships that they may encounter in their lives.

Another example of reflection of literature on communities by Robert Diyanni is the case of a young girl who lived in less wealthy neighborhood. The efforts of this girl are clearly evidenced in the story as we can see the mothers of the children "were in a la-de-da apartment up the block having good ole time as the others were taking care for them." (Diyanni, 2007, p. 428) This realization presents some forgiveness to the cavalier and abrupt children's characteristics. The attitude of the young girl seems to be inept and careless towards other people and generally life. To experience the difference in life style, "the children were taken to the neighborhood upper-class were other people lived." (Diyanni, 2007, p. 428) The interesting part of the story revolves around the mind of a reader as the children join the real jolt experienced in the story.

To conclude, we can see that it appears difficult for people to grasp the endearment or hardship of other people whose situations are different from theirs. However, through literature this has been possible. As readers, we are driven by the author to explore different world through his or her personal experiences of life. We end up learning the depths of other people's communities and human beings. Through the literature we are able to learn new world at different time periods. "From the newly found ideas and knowledge we are made to have a positive relationship with rest of communities whose life style is different from ours" (Terri 2008)

References:

Diyanni, R. (2007). Literature, reading fiction, poetry, and drama (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, p. 428, 612, 613, 641
Terri, J. (2008). Literature reflection of people and society. Retrieved on 11 August, 2009 from http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1378548