Essay on the topic fiction is a reflection of society
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Explanation:
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 people think, say and do in the society. In literature, we find stories designed to portray human life and action through
some characters who, by their words, action and reaction, convey certain messages for the purpose of education, information and entertainment. It is impossible to find a work of literature that excludes the attitudes, morale and values of the society, since no writer has been brought up completely unexposed to the world around him. What writers of literature do is to transport the real-life events in their society into fiction and present it to the society as a mirror with which people can look at themselves and make amends where necessary. Thus, literature is not only a reflection of the society but also serves as a corrective mirror in which members of the society can look at themselves and find the need for positive change. It is necessary to take a close look at some works of literature, in order to understand how literature actually reflects the society. Let�s begin with Ola Rotimi�s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, a portrayal of the politics of opportunism prevailing in the Nigerian society. In the play, a former military officer, Major Lejoka-Brown, enters politics for the purpose of personal enrichment and is bent on using military tactics to achieve political success. His egotism, greediness and deceitfulness come to the fore both in his political and marital life. He lies to Liza, his American wife that she is his only wife, whereas he already had two wives. He needs Liza to boost his ego and his material position. His marriage with Sikira, on the other hand, is a ploy to win women�s votes through the influence of Sikira�s mother who happens to be the head of the National Union of Nigerian Market Women. It means that after achieving his political goal, Sikira could either be dumped or relegated. Most of the politicians in our society breathe out lies like Lejoka-Brown! In order to win the people�s votes, a politician can tell a lot of lies and make promises which he does not intend to keep. Once he has been voted into power, the people cease to be relevant; the moment he assumes office, he forgets his campaign promises, becomes despotic, loots the treasure and enriches himself. This is exactly what most politicians in our society do. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller raises the issue of victimization of workers by the capitalist employers. The play reflects what happens in the American capitalist society. The tragic hero, Willy Loman, serves a company for thirty years; he helps the company to open new grounds in many places but in his old age, they take his salary away. The play exposes the inhumanity of some employers to their employees whom they use and dump without regard for their wellbeing. It is not only in companies that some employees suffer the fate of Willy Loman but also in the civil service. In Nigeria, for instance, an uncountable number of pensioners have
Explanation:
From the time they are children, readers learn about their culture through stories, states Leoné Tiemensma of South Africa's Midrand Graduate Institute. Fairy tales, folk tales and music are often the vehicles that teach children the values, behavioral preferences and ideologies of their culture. Fiction can provide young readers with a reflection of their own experiences and lives, letting them develop an emotional connection with characters like them. This can motivate them toward pride not only in their cultural heritage, but greater self-esteem and respect for others as they live out the stories' values in their own lives.Fictional Stories, Real Fears As authors create fiction, their stories often mirror the real-life fears that plague society, states Simon Fraser University philosophy professor Andrew Feenberg. The apocalyptic and dystopian literature of the 20th century, which depicts end-of-the-world scenarios and failed attempts to create a perfect society, provide key examples. In the shadows of the atomic bomb's creation, books like Nevil Shute's "On the Beach" and Pat Frank's "Alas, Babylon," depict the terrifying outcomes of world-wide nuclear holocausts. Fear of the conformity of Communism also led to the creation of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and George Orwell's "1984."