The attraction is subconscious and therefore not under his control. Darcy and Wickham alone have known each other since childhood. Thus literature opens up new fields of experience, new lines of thoughts and speculations, because it carries us beyond the meagre humanity of our everyday round of existence into contact with those fresh, strong and magnetic personalities who have embodied themselves into worlds great books. Just as parents are able to identify most with the children who are like themselves, they seem to identify least with the children who are most like the partner, especially in a not so harmonious partnership as in the case of the Bennets. Most welcome are her uncle and aunt, the Gardiners. He does not intend to hurt or offend her, but the jarring words are an echo of the inner clash between his mind and emotions. Life is the raw material from which the creative imagination of great writers generates works of fiction that are truer than lifetruer because they probe and reveal more deeply its real character. Lydia gets a more than dashing husband, and adventure too in ample measure.. Wickham wants to become Darcys brother. Furthermore, it helps us to understand the power of language. All these things are shown in the works of literature. Mrs. Bennet, the beautiful daughter of a country attorney, has married a land owning gentleman and risen in society. He is also a changed man now, and renews his relationship with Elizabeth after a long abrupt hiatus. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Work, income, fortune, marriage, valour, ambition, enterprise and talent were different paths that could take one into the highest circles of British society. Literature is the foundation of life. Literature contains humans, the world where humans live in, the fantasy and imagination of humans, all those events and incidents that humans' face or may face at sometime in their life.. when an author presents the events that may happen in the life of a person, through his writings, in a conducive and impressively language, it becomes Literature is great because of its universality. Man is subject to a continuous flood of communication. He gets the two married, repays Wickhams debts, procures him a job, and salvages the Bennet familys reputation. The same goes with the Quran for Muslims, Torah for the Jews, and the Bhagavad-Gita, Ramayana and Veda for the Hindus. England was thus spared a revolution because it adopted a peaceful evolution. Seven of the eight people who are to become related thus, are brought together by life a year earlier, without their conscious will or intention. A new middle class was formed, that constantly sought to imitate and eventually join the wealthy classes. He makes Darcy renounce the stereotypes he had formed of people outside his social sphere. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Literature is a way of expressing thoughts and beliefs. Herein lies its power and universal appeal. And indeed its central meaning, at least, is clear enough. Literature is an essential part of history. Here are just a few reasons why literature is important. Literature reflects life. People were no longer dependent on the farmland for sustenance. So are Darcy and Elizabeth. Our mission is to liberate knowledge. Darcy has all his life disliked Wickham, with very good reason. Medgar Evers College. Understanding the Character of Life Entertaining literature enthralls us with suspense, humor and the intense action of an engaging plot. According to a French epigram "art is life seen through a temperament.". Literary Fiction Overview & Examples | What is Literary Fiction? The English historian G. M. Trevelyan said that if the French nobility had been capable of playing cricket with their peasants, their chateaux would never have been burnt. 2. 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Millie is currently working in tertiary education, whilst completing her master's degree in English Studies. Content Guidelines But Science does not have an answer to the question, How and why did it all begin in the first place?. Most of it is fugitive, but here and therein high-level journalism, in television, in the cinema, in commercial fiction, in westerns and detective stories, and in plain, expository prosesome writing, almost by accident, achieves an aesthetic satisfaction, a depth and relevance that entitle it to stand with other examples of the art of literature. Such irresponsible behaviour is from the father. Quotations of Women in Literature Quiz, https://www.britannica.com/art/literature. His closest friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, belongs to an old, landed family. A new genre of literary criticism that studies literature as a mirror of life and draws from it deeper insights into the character of Life will open up a window to the profound wisdom that resides in our vast repository of world literature. Claudius sealed letter to the English monarch denounces Hamlet as a traitor and threat to his realm and calls on the English king to remove the threat. Not only Pride and Prejudice, any of Shakespeares plays or the works of Hugo, Dumas, Trollope, Hardy, Tolstoy or the great Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana suffice for the purpose of discovering the character of life and its ruling principles. Austen portrays five very different characters in the five Bennet girls, all from the same stock, but at the same time shows us with mathematical precision how each of the girls is a unique combination of the various characteristics of Mrs. and Mr. Bennet. The more subtle the message, the more powerful it comes across. When Bingley, with an income of four or five thousand pounds a year, occupies the neighboring estate of Netherfield, she exclaims, If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for. This young man has recently inherited the fortune his father made in trade. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for. Sir Lucas knighthood and Charlottes elevation through marriage to Collins are again Austens portrayal of the social changes taking place in the country. "If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.". The line which precedes the quotation gives us an . | 30 He had been fairly successful and left his daughter with 4000 pounds. Groups that were loyal to varying degrees to the principle of the Revolution found support in England. Jane and Lydia happen to be her favourite children. Her cousin married a French nobleman who was later sent to the guillotine. Literature mirrors life because it also explores all aspects of humanity: good and evil, love, jealousy, fear, anger, joy, despair. Is there such a thing as chance? The climate of fear, insecurity and uncertainty that prevailed in the country induced as well as provided an opportunity for the government to crush any revolutionary and reformist ideas. As a result, their range became limited; Chaucer was a much richer artist; his insight into life was also profound; but he lacked the spontaneity, the range, the popular appeal of the ballad-writers, that of the ballads of Mymansingha Gitika. Literature reflects life and its circumstances. He has high values and principles. Art for arts sake, pursuit of pure beauty through art, the creation of a literary or artists masterpiece as an end in itselfare now falling into disfavor. Can literature give us the knowledge to make sense of apparent coincidences? He wrote about power and politics in his plays, which are still popular today. They explain their way of life. Science describes these phenomena as singularities, but description is not explanation. Literary criticism is an Occidental science, an attempt to apply the analytic mental faculty to the comprehension of that which cannot be divided, for Life is an integrated whole that can only be understood in totality and in context. The more literature is free from its class limitations, and becomes the vehicle of the thoughts and feeling of the common man, the working people, the more will it tend to become popular and public. Milagros Ramos. She would often take me to different libraries to use the computers and search for books. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Having become the mistress of Longbourn and found a foothold in the upper class, she sets about the task of having her daughters elevated further. Literature is the expression of life in words of truth and beauty; it is the written record of man's spirit, of his thoughts, emotions, aspirations; it is the history, and the only history, of the human soul. Poetry that fails as literature is not called poetry at all but verse. Raymond Williams, author and critic, uses her own classic opening line to summarize his criticism of her work: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Austen chose to ignore the decisive historical events of her time. But Austen did not ignore anything. Austen wrote in a letter to her sister Cassandra, I write only for fame. This was in 1796, fifteen years before she was to have a book published. Reconciling art and science, the subjective and objective views of reality through literary criticism may well provide a means to transcend the limitations of a purely material life science and discover a true science of life. An excellent example is Gilbert Whites Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne (1789). Details such as the main character's use of the phonotelephote, a device which enables ''the transmission of images by means of sensitive mirrors connected by wires,'' to communicate with his wife overseas in a way where he can see her, may seem silly in our current context of Skype and cell phones, but they serve as examples of the ideas someone living in the 19th century had regarding the future. Austen has captured such minute elements of human psychology in her portrayal of the Bennet family. He does not find any girl good enough to dance with. If Elizabeth has got the best combination from her parents, the exact opposite seems to have been reserved for the next daughter. Thus, peoples have different ideas of the Godhead. The Effects of Form & Structure in Poetry & Drama, Rhetorical Strategies & Methods of Argument, GACE English: Researching & Citing Sources, Using Technology to Teach Reading & Writing, AP English Language: Homework Help Resource, Traditional Literature: Definition, Characters, Types & Books, Determining Point of View & Purpose in Informational Texts, How to Read & Interpret Social Studies Texts, Conveying Point of View With Exaggerated Literary Devices, Alice Walker's The Color Purple: Summary & Quotes, Coretta Scott King: Biography, Books & Accomplishments, Famous African American Inventors: Inventions & Names, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen shows the unmistakable connections between the inner and outer worlds. Their actions and experiences also reflect the emerging social process. As almost universally proclaimed, Darcy is Austens best hero. One reads so much about your 'flat style' but can language ever be truly neutral? "I don't feel swept up anymore, but I do feel the need to stay . PreserveArticles.com is an online article publishing site that helps you to submit your knowledge so that it may be preserved for eternity. He finds Darcy standing by himself, and says he will not have him stand in a stupid manner. He is perhaps the one person in Meryton who sees through Wickham from day one. While most of literature is written in words, some of words come alive in the imagination when you develop an educated imagination, and its ability to understand the complexity or simplicity of the . Some writers describe them explicitly. It is expressed in such a non-technical form as to make it intelligible and give aesthetic pleasure and relief to the mind of the common man. Privacy Policy Physicists extrapolate backwards in time to one picosecond, a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang, and explain the universe, the development of its electronuclear force and magnetism, the formation of all matter from the hydrogen nuclei to the stars and planets, up to the evolution of plant and animal life. He wrote novels that aimed to threaten the Spanish Empire during the colonization of the Philippines by Spain. The Ladys foolish and boorish ways show the decadence that is set in the upper classes. When Charlotte announces her engagement to Collins, Elizabeth responds with an unthinking, insensitive Impossible! When she informs her family of her own engagement to Darcy, the same word is echoed. He believes in the superiority of his class, but he finds in Elizabeth and some of her friends and family qualities that he can admire. Literature is a powerful reflection of society. Within a span of more than a thousand years from the Prophet Moses to the Apostle Paul, the Bible was written by numerous authors believed to be inspired by Gods divine wisdom and tries to explain about the mysteries of life as well as setting rules for ones personal faith. Kelly argues that Austens conscious or subconscious attitudes are depicted through her characterizationssuch as in a comic clergyman and a boorish aristocrat. Numerous poems, songs, sonnets, ballads, and odes were written by famous writers as manifestations of their love and patriotism towards their own country. But the changing conditions, aided by his love for Elizabeth, make Darcy go in search of Wickham and Lydia, in areas he would otherwise not visit, with the assistance of people he would much rather avoid. Deriving from the Latin littera, a letter of the alphabet, literature is first and foremost humankinds entire body of writing; after that it is the body of writing belonging to a given language or people; then it is individual pieces of writing. This uncle in trade who lives in an unprestigious locality in London has impressed Darcy with his culture, refinement, intelligence and fine values. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". With this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and build our intuitions and instincts. Darcy who was among the first circles in the land marries a girl without a fortune, the daughter of a modest landowner, with ties to the working class in the country and tradespeople in London. When news of Bingleys arrival comes and the Bennet family is excited at the thought of a marriage, Lydia exclaims that she would like to be the first in her family to get married. It may or may not impart knowledge or religious or moral instruction directly. By writing about this culture, these authors not only left a wonderful legacy for understanding their experiences, but provided their peers with a sense of ownership over and pride in their culture. Some personal documents (autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, and letters) rank among the worlds greatest literature. Literature is any written work that deals with man and his experiences expressed in artistic, imaginative, creative, and meaningful languages which arouses a noble feeling of pleasure in its interpretation and commentary on man's fate and destiny. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Great writers consciously or subconsciously reflect truths of life and the happenings in society in their writing. It is a journey that is inscribed in pages and powered by the imagination of the reader. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She gets her natural goodness from her father. Austen has a deep and mature insight into human nature that is far from romantic fantasy. When his second attempt is successful, and his dearest, loveliest Elizabeth accepts him, he feels a happiness that he has never felt before. The impact of literature in modern society is undeniable. He spends all his time hunting, riding and in such leisure activities. PreserveArticles.com: Preserving Your Articles for Eternity, Essay on the Role of Press and Literature for the independence of India, Essay on the connection between literature and society, Notes on the development of Literature during the period of Renaissance in Europe, Bacons Essays are familiar to all lovers of English literature, What was the impact of the revival of ancient Greco-Roman culture on the life and literature during Renaissance period. It can teach us about the past, help us understand the present and empower us to create the future. Great literature always grasps and reflects these truths of life that emerge triumphant out of the ruins of the past. Cricket, football, or any other sport would have served the purpose, it was the underlying principle. It tells us something about our past and our present. Pre Socratic and Socratic philosophers. The five Bennet girls are all unique, each with her own characteristics. When authors use literature to express their values, they might do so by presenting either the way that they believe things should be, or by presenting things that go against their values in a problematic way. Answer (1 of 8): My dear friend, Literature has had a major impact on the development of society. Is there a pattern to the repetition? The power of literature affects all of us. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I love listening to music in the car because it helps me to prepare for the day that waits. An example of an author using literature in this way could be Jules Verne's short story, ''In the Year 2889'' (1889). However, it expresses a clear dispassionate knowledge of the complexity of human character that exceeds in its subtle complexity the superficiality of most prevailing psychological theories. In its corrective function, literature mirrors the ills of the society with a view to making the society realize its mistakes and make amends. He displays the same behaviour when Elizabeth rejects Collins proposal. But not everything expressed in wordseven when organized and written downis counted as literature. Without literature, life ceases to exist. "Literature raises life to a new level of meaning and understanding, and in the process restores sanity and justice in an insane and unjust world." . Collins father-in-law, Sir William Lucas, had been a trader in Meryton, the town neighboring Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet had however set her sights higher. Pride and Prejudice begins with news of the arrival of a wealthy bachelor, Charles Bingley, at Netherfield Hall in Hertfordshire. Even though it is dynamic, endless, and multi-dimensional, literature contributes significant purposes to the world we live in. He has returned a day earlier than planned. No creativity, not even in a tale of fantasy or science fiction, can describe something that is untouched by the trends and values of society, either current or pertaining to some period in history. This paper considers how death and dying are presented in literature. The British played without segregation, aristocracy, gentry, traders, workers and all. Still finer literature reveals the complex interactions between action, individual character and the evolving character of the society in which the action takes place. She is only aware of what she wants. The barriers which egalitarian modern society today tends to dismiss as mere prejudice did exist, as Lady Catherine insists. Literature is a form of writing that communicates ideas, concepts, and themes from the writer to the reader. When you consider the fact that literary texts generally employ very strategic ways of communicating, then an awareness of language's potential becomes important. After her elopement with Wickham, the two are caught and a marriage is hastily arranged. Finally, it is this same girl to whom he proposes marriage, not once but twice. Experiential, subjective truths that touch the emotions have a greater learning impact than abstract scientific knowledge in a textbook.. She is the author of the classic " Little Women ". It is about the Bennets and their neighbours the Lucases in the village of Longbourn. Does life indicate the end subtly in the beginning? It has shaped civilisations, changed political systems and exposed injustice. Read with this insight, Pride and Prejudice, as all great works of literature, offers us all the knowledge required to promote individual accomplishment and human welfare. Martin Luther King Jr.s famous speech, I Have a Dream contains the revolutionists desire for a new America a country filled with liberty, not only for the Whites but for the Blacks as well. The English aristocrat gave up his superiority, and saved his head, unlike his French counterparts who absolutely refused to bow down, and ultimately lost all.. He declares Wickhams a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. Later when he learns the truth about the man, he respects Darcys character, not his wealth or status. Colonies supplied raw materials and served as vast new markets; railroad and shipping industries were developing; factories were coming up; and towns and cities were developing and expanding. When I listen to music, I tend to forget all my worries, sorrows, and pain. This paper considers how death and dying are presented in literature. Literature is an interpretation of life; the writer interprets the life in his own way and gives a commentary over it in his work. Moreover, she had a compulsion to be subtle. Create your account, 30 chapters | Life is full of them too. But he makes Bingley his friend and accepts the invitation to go to Hertfordshire. Mrs. Bennet is now the mistress of Longbourn, and of the most prominent family in the neighborhood. He has failed to provide for his family. However, Darcy refuses to mix with the people of Hertfordshire. It is not possible for any writer, especially one of Austens stature, to create something that is not true to life. Biology starts from the first living cell and describes life. As we are exposed to more and more books and authors, it becomes difficult to determine what they all have in common. As we saw earlier, the characters reveal great insights into human psychology. Literature generally can be any written work, but it is especially an artistic or intellectual work of writing. For awakening to the reality of the unexpected and inexplicable is only the first step in the revelation of the character of life and the greatness of the authors vision of it. Among the most frequent themes of horror literature are death, illnesses, including mental illnesses, creatures such as demons, among others. ture lit--r-chu ()r li-tr- -chr 1 : written works having excellence of form or expression and ideas of lasting and widespread interest 2 : written material (as of a period or on a subject) More from Merriam-Webster on literature Nglish: Translation of literature for Spanish Speakers Just like the marriage between Mrs. and Mr. Bennet, the friendship between Bingley and Darcy is another facet of the social evolution that Austen captures in her story. An amazing coincidence? Many writers used their writing to protest this oppression and promote reform. In my motherland, the Philippines, or national hero, Jose Rizal, was a revolutionist as well as a writer. Charlotte gets engaged to Collins instead, leaving Mrs. Bennet disappointed and enraged. The literature of any nation is the image that reflects the sincere ideas, so we can call it the mirror of life which reflects writers ' thought about life and the real situation of the world around. He lacks the energy and mental will for the task. Till the publication of Sense and Sensibility in 1811, her readership was limited to her own family members and friends. Thus, there is the vital and intimate connection between literature and life which is inseparable. But this temporary aberration, which Austens genius captures with the alertness and clarity of an expert photographer, results from the momentary reversal of their fortunes.