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In addition to educating, informing, and entertaining, I do agree that literature can shoulder the responsibility of reforming and improving societies. But this can only happen when truly dedicated, loyal writers and poets are involved; when patriotic and zealous scholars are able to expose and face corruption bravely; when intellectuals address their country's issues objectively and devote their pens to altruism. Only then can we call literature a reform tool.
It's possible, sure. Sometimes it happens when a popular novel features an appealing, honorable character whom people want to be like, such as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. It also happens when a popular novel features unpleasant characters and/or negative situations and people want to avoid those situations. Probably the best example is The Jungle, which in the US led directly to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration.
But is it literature's responsibility to do this? I don't think so. Many stories simply reflect the times that they are in, or tell stories that aren't intended to connect to society as a whole. More importantly, authors who set out to write Great Important Books That Teach Lessons often fail to create compelling stories that people want to read.
In societies where English literature is 'canned' and condensed at best, then no it can not possibly be its respnsibility to reform and improve society.
Due in part to the rampant age of misquoting and texting, many outtanding authors have been casually (then supposedly academically) misrepresented. Worse still one can see absolute butchering of classic texts thanks to ministries.
In my mind, it would be better to outright ban texts than to allow such nonsensical butchering.
In terms of non-English literature, from the Middle East in paticular, unfortunatey it is more likely that the audience, publications and ensuing discussions are abroad.
yes .i agree to experts answers.
Yes.True literature represents people's interests, problems and can be reforming effectivly if conveyed in a simple understandable manner.
For me the reforms and the change in the society truly depends upon the naive practicalities and the efficacious grooming throughout...Altough the part that literature can play is to make everyone aware of the righteous destinations but how to reach that destinations totally depends on the wise and the well groomed participant of the society that can lead in more professional and practical way.
I agree with experts answer. Thanks for the invitation.
"Life follows Art" is a comment we read sometimes in some news clips when some event happens as written down a fiction.
But "Art follows life" too, because a thinke writes down a literary work based on his experience and sometimes imagination based again on summer experience.
In this ever changing societal dynamics, humanity keeps on refining anredefining itself often hitching on to the the thoughts of those gifted with literary talent.
Chances are that literature comes in as a major contributor to the constant betterment of mankind.
In my point of view that any literatures can not do anything in our society, while they do not understand the importance of literatures. We know the real stories of our old scholars proven their marking point in history. They doesn't have any literatures or good educational background, Let me ask you some thing, then how they would familiar in our histories.?. The answer is very simple they having own creative thinking, management skills and inventional powers etc., its coming only from the self assessments study. I believe that any literature can not develop the right things or good humans.
