The Role Of Literature In Developing Wisdom
Literature reflects societal affairs, and society develops literature. They have a synergic relationship, and as a student of literature, I always felt that I could understand my society better through the literary works of various writers through time and age. The psyche of people is influenced by culture, and an individual from that society only writes a narrative focusing on one aspect of the society. It is interesting to note that this process when carried on for a long period can help an individual gain wisdom for life.
The Relevance of Classical and Modern Literature:
The classical literature is still relevant today because of its timeless themes. The timeless themes of classical literature, like love, family values, and social morals are still relevant today, and we can learn significant life lessons from them. Both the comedies and tragedies serve as life lesson providers by exploring the struggles of life and offering redemption. Classical literature also serves as a reminder that people have struggled through ages and that nobody is alone in his/her journey. For example, a novel like Les Miserables talks about social divide and injustice, and a book like 1984 explores the theme of blind acceptance without speculation.
In the space of modern literature, various books and autobiographies are offering amazing life lessons. In the book called “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” had life lessons to teach. The autobiography explores the life of a rich and successful man who left all his riches in search of inner peace. It offers an insight into the rich journey of a soul that has fulfilled his desires in the mortal world and feels lost until he discovers that there is peace and understanding outside the material world. There is an entire gamut of self-help books in modern times that are positively transforming our lives.
Modern life is so complicated, and people are so confused with their emotions that they need the guidance of a wise soul to reach a deeper understanding. Emotional intelligence among people is decreasing daily, and these self-help books come as a rescue. They can help us to teach the importance of emotionally expressing oneself positively, making our life easier. Some books teach various skills vital to survival, and books explore humor that teaches us about having a funny perspective on different life problems and solving them.
Love is a common theme in books from the classical world and the modern era. Its beauty, problems, joy, and suffering have all successfully taught us something great about love. One such book is “All About Love”. It explores the theme of love in its myriad forms, including self-love. Another enlightening and thought-provoking book is “The Sapiens”. It is authored by Yuval Noah Harari. One of the bestsellers of its kind, it explores the evolution of humankind, the milestones and challenges, and the impact of those challenges on our psyche and lives as a whole.
However, reading books from same or similar civilizations is important as the value systems can differ in other civilizations. For example, it is better if Indians first read inspiring literature from their civilization before reading foreign books. We are not recommending to avoid foreign books. However, not reading the inspiring literature from Indian context first can give wrong context and not be as helpful. Many times, such focus on only reading foreign books it creates individuals of booking knowledge who cannot fit in real life in their country.