Your
question suggests that this is something that has been covered in a textbook or in a lecture and
that you are expected to produce four reasons in particular, those covered in your course.
However, as a general matter, you are likely to get different answers from different people. I
can offer five reasons that I consider the most important reasons we study literature, which are
that it allows us to move out of ourselves, that it allows us to look within ourselves, that it
makes us empathetic, that it gives us common ground with other educated people, and that it is
pleasurable in and of itself.
You will hear English teachers tell you that
literature is a window upon the world, and this is so true. allows us to visit different times,
different places, and different peoples. Without it, all we would know about is a very limited
piece of life. When I read The Kite Runner, I learn about Afghani culture,
the trials and tribulations the country has experienced, and what it is like to be an immigrant.
When I read Reading Lolita in Tehran, I learn about still another culture,
and I learn about how women and intellectualism are repressed in some other countries. When I
read Huckleberry Finn, I am able to go back over a hundred years in the
history of my own country, to learn about what life was like then in times of slavery and before
this country was tamed. Who would want to deny themselves these wonderful windows onto the world
out there?
You may also hear that reading literature is like a mirror.
What is meant by this is that it allows you to look at yourself. As we read, we notice how
characters may be like us or not. We notice how situations might be similar to those we have
experienced. This has the effect of making us examine ourselves critically. What would we do in
such a situation? Would we act as particular character would act? Sometimes, in my book group,
this is the sort of discussion we have, and different people have different opinions about what
is right or wrong, but the book we are discussing seems to make us focus upon ourselves, a way
of asking if we measure up, if we are of good or bad character. Enders Game
seems to be a mirror for readers, who think about what their own moral characters are.
Similarly, The Giver tends to make people examine themselves, to ask if
they are really thinking for themselves or allowing others to force them into conformity. So, as
we read, we are holding up a mirror to examine ourselves.
Having these
windows and mirrors makes us more empathetic people. We are now able to have some insight into
how other people live, how other people feel, how circumstances force people to make difficult
choices that are not perfect. We are able to understand how someone can do everything right and
still have a poor outcome because of circumstances beyond control. We can look deeply within
ourselves and ask whether or not we are judgmental of others in a a way that is not very
attractive. All of this encourages us to understand the feelings and motivations of those around
us, which is what empathy really is. There have been studies done that have concluded that
those who read literature are more empathetic than those who do not. And in order to get along
in a diverse world, the most useful kind of emotional intelligence is probably
empathy.
As you move along in the world, you will find that many educated
people have read the same literature. This gives you a common ground upon which to
communicate. Often when I meet strangers, we end up talking about the books we have read, and
it is remarkable how many of the same literary works we have in common. This gives us a common
frame of reference, a common vocabulary, and common literary allusions. Literature is the stuff
of civilization, and when we read it, we become part of a tribe of civilized people. That is a
membership I cherish.
Last, but not least, reading literature is one of
life's great pleasures. It is as pleasurable as a good meal or a walk in the park on a beautiful
day. When I deserve a reward after a great deal of hard work, I often reward myself with
reading. A book is a wonderful companion, not to replace people, but still a wonderful
experience in and of itself. Even if all the previous reasons did not exist, I would still be a
reader, just for the pleasure of it!
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