Literature A Reflection of Society - 1764 Words

In 1445, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press and changed the world forever. Before this miraculous invention, the only way people could copy literary texts was by hand, which was a very tedious and expensive process. With the help of Gutenberg’s genius, reading materials spread across Europe with more speed than ever because the inexpensive cost of bookmaking led to a rise in sales from the people during that time period. The first book printed was the Bible in Latin, which has since gone on to be the most translated and purchased book in the world. After that was printed, however, the masses demanded more types of literature in their own languages. Ancient works on things such as science, government, and philosophy were†¦show more content†¦After locking her up, his son Haemon, who is engaged to Antigone, is clearly upset over the news and attempts to talk some sense into his father. Of course, Creon stays stubborn in his ways and claims, â€Å"The city is the king’s – that’s the law!† (1331), to which Haemon replies, â€Å"What a splendid king you’d make of a desert island – you and you alone† (1331). Here, Sophocles comments about the importance of a democracy within a society like Athens had as opposed to just one man completely having all the power. In the end, Creon realizes his mistake of putting the state before his own family and goes to release Antigone, only to find her hanged by her own hand. Haemon then kills himself, which in turn, leads to his mother and Creon’s wife, Eurydice, to do the same. Because Creon could not get out of his own way, he was left to suffer alone in his agony. This tragedy was controversial because even though Antigone defied the state law, she did right by her family and the gods, which is what ancient Greeks were supposed to put first above their own selfishness. Henry David Thoreau also believed in defying authority for the sake of the indivi dual’s conscience being. In his essay titled â€Å"Civil Disobedience†, Thoreau boldly questioned why people obeyed the laws of the United States even when they believed them to be unjust. To act upon his point, Thoreau refused to payShow MoreRelatedTransformative Learning Theory : The Importance Of Planetary Consciousness Essay1641 Words   |  7 Pagesrealization, reflection, discourse, and active pursuit of change. This process requires significant effort for the individual and requires deep critical reflection into personal belief systems, inflicted views from childhood, and questioning knowledge. The presented literature explores the origins of transformative learning theory, the importance of a strong planetary context, and further examples of the application of this theory. Keywords: transformative learning theory, reflection, self-reflection, symbolsRead MoreThroughout Literary History The Definition And Application939 Words   |  4 Pagesreaders sympathizing with the poet. Literature at this time mainly came in the form of poems which were seen as windows into the soul of the author. Matthew Arnold and his work Culture and Anarchy comes out of this era. Slightly different than a traditional romantic author, Arnold states that literature is â€Å"vitally connected to society and culture† (Leitch, et al. 691). And poetry, â€Å"equipped men and women to perceive authentic value in the workings of the society and culture around them† (Leitch, etRead MoreLiterature: Mirror of Society1167 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature: Mirror of Society That literature is a reflection of the society is a fact that has been widely acknowledged. Literature indeed reflects the society, its good values and its ills. In its corrective function, literature mirrors the ills of the society with a view to making the society realize its mistakes and make amends. It also projects the virtues or good values in the society for people to emulate. Literature, as an imitation of human action, often presents a picture of what peopleRead MoreGender Roles Of Women s Literature1661 Words   |  7 Pageswhich gender roles are portrayed in children’s literature significantly contributes to the development of our youth’s understanding of their own gender’s role and how they are perceived by society. It is important for children to understand gender roles because gender roles are an essential cog in the perpetual machine that develops our society, but these cogs have been replaced with newer, more up-to-date cogs over recent years, so to speak. As society has changed, so has the typical role that eachRead MoreReflection Of Social Life In Han Kangs The Vegehood847 Words   |  4 Pages Literature is a true reflection of the society; it mirrors the thoughts and actions of the society. A good work of literary art speaks about the important things in real life. It does not hide what people experience in life. Instead, it exposes the issues and complexities that real people face in real life. Literature acknowledges that social life is a blend of various complexities that affect the way people think and behave. The way people think and behave is a pure reflection of what theyRead MoreGender Inequalities in Victorian England: Robert Browning’s Porphyria’s Lover984 Words   |  4 Pagesthis tale of love, end in cruel, cold-blooded murder? Good evening and welcome to Poetry Break Down, I’m your host Mary Doe. Tonight, we will delve into the fascinating world of classic Victorian literature. Under the microscope is canonized poet, the late Robert Browning. Browning’s poetry was a reflection of his life and times living in Victorian England. La ter on this evening we will analyze just how his times came to play a major role in some of his greatest works, in particular his revered poemRead MorePostmodernism in American Literature Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesPostmodernism in American literature The novel Beloved by Toni Morrison often makes us question the credibility of what is being told, and uses many striking, sudden shifts between the past and present, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction. This blurring of the truth is a common element of postmodern fiction. In fact, many scholars would say that Beloved is a great example of postmodernism. (Ebrahimi 2005) Morrison uses this technique to bring about the sufferingRead MoreThe Rights Of Female Sexuality1626 Words   |  7 Pagescenturies. Aphra Behn, the first woman in England to identify as a professional writer, challenged sexual inequality by reforming the female image through literature. She addresses themes of female desire, sexuality, and homosexuality in amatory fiction such as â€Å"To the Fair Clorinda†,†The Willing Mistress†, â€Å"The Dissapointment†, and â€Å"The Reflection: A Song† in order to contradict the common view of the time that female sex uality was a flaw which had to be restricted by men. â€Å"The Willing Mistress†Read MoreCritical Evaluation Of Writing A Literature Review1642 Words   |  7 Pageswork and determination, as a result student finds it very difficult to attain the required level needed for a good researcher. This critical reflection is based on my research skills. The action which was embark on to measure the development of my research skills was handling of data gathered for my different course works and analysing them for critical literature review writing. Analysis of skills developed: Research in a simplistic form refers to a quest for information. It can also be defined as aRead MoreRalph Waldo Emerson s Nature1364 Words   |  6 Pagesungrateful of its generosity. Various perspectives were discussed in the essay. Through the literature s view, Emerson have founded the ideas of transcendentalism, which is a systematic belief that appreciates the beauty of nature through divinity. Its status is emphasized as being merged with the creator. Transcendentalism stresses that concepts of reality can only be understood through deep studies and reflection in relation to nature. Through the key ideas mentioned and explained in the essay Nature