On the Relationship between Literature, History, and Human Beings Essay

To assume that an design belongs to a particular(prenominal) set entails that an object possesses mistakable characteristics to all the different objects in the set. In most moorings, two or more sets exact a tendency to intertwine with one another since some objects in another set get d feature similar characteristics to the objects in a different set. This intermingling of different objects with different characteristics is app bent in the field of belles-lettres. publications here ought to be mute as a written art have that allows the creation of untried-fangled worlds. a great deal(prenominal) a ideaion of publications is establish on the assumption that literary textual matters are silver-tongued and malleable in nature due to the vast meanings that whitethorn be attributed to their content. This view of literature is based on the Reader-Response Theory which assumes that literary texts may only exist within the contributors intellect (Murfin and Ray 426). Murfin and Ray get hold of, With the literary work as a catalyst of handstal events comes a re commentary of the reader (as) the passive recipient of those ideas that an occasion has planted in a text (427).The field of literature is on that pointby characterized by the intermingling of different objects with different characteristics since although some works adhere to a unique(predicate) influence, the meanings attributed to these works limiting in line with the readers conception of a their content. In line with this, the following raillery posits that all contours of literature, regardless of their form and content, are united with one another due to their dependence on the merciful mind.This is another way of stating that literature is connected to military man servicemans due to its dependence on human production as well as on its dependence on human interpretation. Such an assumption is based on several propositions. First, literature, as an art form, reflects t he social and political conditions during a particular termination in history, whether on the gunpoint of its production or on the period of its reproduction. Second, the function of human consciousness in determining the meaning of a work is evident in some(prenominal) the author and the readers association of a meaning to the form and content of a text.Finally, the function of human consciousness in unifying not only human experience but also all forms and types of literary works is apparent as the production and reproduction of a work manifests the creation of new meanings and consequently new ways of consciousness a text. These assumption merely show that the production, reproduction, and reception of a literary work throughout history involves a dialectic process wherein a literary text serves as the main referent for the opposing meanings given to a specific event and? or concept located in a literary work.Eagleton specifies the inter partnership between literature and hi story as she posits that the definition of the concept literature continually evolves along with the social and political conditions in a particular period in history. She claims, We can drop once and for all the illusion that the category literature is objective in the sense of cosmos eternally given and immutableLiterature reflects the ways in which what we say and intrust connects with the power-structure and power relations of the confederation we live in (Eagleton 10-14).Eagleton emphasizes the dependence of the association of the values and meanings used in the analysis of literary works to a rife belief in a particular period in history. A concrete example of this can be seen in the case of Gilmans A lily-livered Wallpaper. Gilmans text was only consumeed as an classical literary work in the afterward part of the 20th century which may be associated with the sociopolitical conditions that allowed the equality of two men and women and hence the experience of woman w riters and their works during that time.Another example of this is apparent in the distinction between Formalism and contemporaneity in literature. Formalists believe that all literary works can be analyzed in call of their form (Eagleton 3). They argued that form precedes content as they conceived of the former as a mere expression of the later, that being content was merely the motivation of form (Eagleton 3). As opposed to this, the Modernists argued that the content was more important than the form (Brief Guide to Modernism).The Imagists, a sub-group of Modernists, for example, wrote in free verse as opposed to the constrictive forms of sonnets or villanelles (Brief Guide to Imagism). This distinction between Formalism and Modernism shows the evolution of the concept literature. condition that no fixed meaning may be attributed to the term literature one may claim that a fixed meaning was presented in relation to the term in the initial part of the preaching. It is important to note however that the meaning given to the term above merely emphasizes the fluidity of literature.Such is the case since a description of literary works as texts that enable the creation of new worlds merely provides a loose definition of the term as opposed to the rigid definition provided by the Formalists. In other words, the way literature is conceived in this discussion merely emphasizes the readers relationship to a work, which is the readers ability to identify new world or new meanings in the combination of a texts form and content.Although the looseness of the definition specified above may seem to consider all forms of written works as literary texts, it is important to note that the definition is still grounded on what is considered to be an art form. Regardless of this definition, the point which is being emphasized here is the dependence of the term literature on the sociopolitical conditions of a period. As can be seen in the case of Gilmans text as well as in the case of the Formalists and Modernists, the way one understands literature is dependent on the predominant beliefs during the period of a literary texts production or a literary questions existence.With the relationship between literature and history mentioned above, it becomes evident why human consciousness occupies a primary role in determining the meaning of a literary work. Human consciousness provides the contact lens between literature and history as the human mind interprets specific beliefs and associates them with the content of literary works. In the case of literary critics, the human mind interprets the predominant beliefs regarding the structure of objects in society and creates a connection between this order and the form and content of literary works.In other words, the human mind ascribes meanings to literary texts. In the same manner that human beings create a bridge between history and literature, literature also creates a bridge between human beings. This relat ionship between history, literature, and human beings can be seen in Albees The the Statesn Dream and DeLillos White Noise. In the case of Albees play, his discussion of the American aspiration not only shows the association of a specific male stereotype to the dream but its association to superficial ideals.The stereotype is apparent as the unripened manhood, which establishs the American dream, is describes as a clean-cut, Midwest farm boy type, almost insultingly good looking in a typically American way (Albee 112). He was further described to possess a good profile, straight nose, fairish eyes, (and a) wonderful smile (Albee 112). This description of the untried Man shows the dependence of his existence on a specific setup in society wherein lights fill upas he steps into(a) room (Albee 112).The Young Mans existence, as a representation of the American dream, is dependent on a society wherein external appearance is lauded in comparison to a persons character. Note for exam ple that the Young Man is also described to be incapable of loving anyone else (Albee 115). He is thereby an individual who is poverty-stricken of establishing a loving connection with other human beings. By representing the Young Mans existence to be dependent on a superficial society, Albee paves the way for different ways of reading the text.One, for example, may focus on the Young Mans representation of the Hollywood ideal in America and its connection to the American dream. In addition, one may also focus on the Young Mans superficial existence. Albees text, in this sense, is fluid since no specific interpretation of the work may be given. Its interpretation is dependent on the reader and? or audience of his play. In a similar manner, DeLillos White Noise is also a text open to interpretation. The text also discusses an opinion of life which is also common to all men, that being death.It is a truism that all human beings are bound to die. DeLillos novel associates death with the rapid developments caused by the electronic age. Consider, for example, his description of white ring in the following passage, Traffic washes past, a remote and steady murmur around our sleep, as of dead souls babbling at the edge of a dream (DeLillo 4). The novels title, White Noise, may be understood as a representation of death. Death, like white noise, is a sound that permeates human existence. They are both representations of the nothingness that lies outside of life and activity.Notice that it was only in the graveyard, as Jack was faced with the figures of the dead, that there was no mentioned of the white noise in Jacks surroundings (DeLillo 71). White noise, in this sense, serves as a reminder of death. It is the sound that one hears before one encounters the death of ones own body. In conjunction to the continuous technological developments in our world, white noise is a sound of count for the possible end of the world itself. In both Albees play and DeLillos nove l, one notes that both texts discuss certain universal themes.Albees play revolves around the theme of a countrys dream. DeLillos novel, on the other hand, revolves around the theme of death. Both of these are universal themes as they represent certain aspects of human experience that resounds throughout time. The relationship between literature, history, and human beings is thereby apparent in both texts as they themselves present an authors view regarding a universal theme, one which go out be experienced by all human beings throughout the existence of our race.Due to its universal character, these themes, and hence both texts which are grounded on these themes, will be interpreted in different ways by all those who will read them. Human consciousness thereby determines the meaning of a work as an author and a reader associates meanings to a works form and content. The universal themes of all literary works provide all human beings, regardless of the spatiotemporal conditions dur ing their existence, with a common ground for understanding literary texts.It is partially due to these universal themes that the members of the modern generation are able to find a connection with the works of authors who belong to a different generation. These themes however have been reinterpreted in line with the current generations experiences and conception of reality. This can be seen in Frosts stop by Woods on a Rainy Evening and Jacobys The Diner. In Frosts song, one is presented with the theme of death as the poems persona ponders on the mysteries associated with it. He states, The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.?But I have promises to keep, ? And miles to go before I sleep (Poe). The persona, in this sense, attempts to ward off thoughts of death since he recognizes that life has a lot more experiences in store for him. Although Poe wrote this poem in the 1920s, its theme continues to be found in contemporary works as can be seen in Jacobys The Diner. In the text, J acoby speaks of another form of death, one that has been brought about by the artificial reality enabled by technological innovations. He claims, Bright twinkling(prenominal) city lights? Ill take your pale and shadowed glow,?Whatever half-light path you show? I witness so close to those in here, ? I share their loneliness and fear? From the probing, searching nighttime (Jacoby). In The Diner, the persona speaks of the death of human interaction caused by the alienating conditions in the modern world. In this world, although men are given the innovations that should have provided them with the chance to have longer periods of meaningful interaction with one another, the artificiality of their surroundings has led them to create artificial relationships with each other.The similarity of the theme of both Frosts and Jacobys texts manifest how literature may serve as a tool for portraying similar themes whose meanings turn due to the new events and? or concepts which have been assoc iated with it. Within this context, it is evident that all forms of literature are much more alike than disparate. Human consciousness has allowed the connection of all literary works as it has enabled the form of all literary texts to correspond with one another due to its relationship to the reader who continually participates in the active reinterpretation of literary works.As McEwan claims, Literature flourishes along the channels of this unspoken agreement between writers and readers, religious offering a mental map whose north and south are the specific, and the general (41). In this mental map, human minds throughout history interact in a dialectic dialogue with one another as they conceive, interpret, and reinterpret universal themes in literature. This dialogue allows the conception of literature as an art form that continually allows the creation of new worlds and new ways of perceiving reality. Works Cited A Brief Guide to Imagism. Poets. org From the Academy of American Poets. n. d. Web. 15 May 2010. A Brief Guide to Modernism. Poets. org From the Academy of American Poets. n. d. Web. 15 May 2010. Albee, Edward. The American Dream and, The Zoo Story Two Plays. New York Plume, 1997. Print. DeLillo, Don. White Noise. New York Penguin Books, 1985. Print. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory An Introduction. Oxford Blackwell Publishers, 1996. Print. Frost, Robert. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Poets. org From the Academy of American Poets. n. d. Web.15 May 2010. Gilman, Charlotte. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories. London Courier Dover, 1997. Print. Jacoby, Peter. The Diner. Prof. Peter R. Jacobys Spring 2010 Web Site. San Diego Mesa College. n. d. Web. 15 May 2010. McEwan, Ian. Literature, Science and Human Nature. Human Nature Fact and Fiction. Eds. Robin Headlam and Johnjoe McFadden. New York Continuum International create Group, 2006. 40-62. Print. Murfin, Ross and Supryia Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. Lon don Bedford? St. Martins, 2009. Print.