Relationship between Literature and Society
“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches
the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and
in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already
become”
~C.S. Lewis
As we all know Literature is a mirror of society which reflects societies
issues in different forms like novel, prose, short story, plays or dramas.
Literature can be meant as
“any body of writings written in a particular country or a period or
in the world in general”
But literature definition is not restricted to these words. In fact literature
is something where we or any writer say anything. Literature depicts the
good and bad both sides of our society. There are many ways in which we
can discuss literature and its relation with society. Society is a group of
people with different mentality or different thinking. Human society can
be characterized by the relationship between individuals who cultures,
beliefs,values, norms and traditions etc.
In literature there are many different writings of different writers from
different perspectives. Though literature is the mirror of society and it
depicts the reality of society.Written work and reading are two different
things. Written work is real world and reading is a material act because
reading depends upon the reader that how he perceive the work he
read.So in this way influence of literature on society can be indirect
means to say that when different people read the same work they see that
work in their own way, in their own perspective. Literature influenced
society very much. Good or bad things or issues of the society whatever
they are, mainly discussed in literature writings to depicts the reality of
the world. If we see the literary works there are many literary works
which of our society.
“Society finds its actual life in literature”
19th century is marked by a huge change as Britain changes from a rural
area to an urban. Tess of Durbevills by Thomas hardy reflect the social
changes of rural life. At the beginning of novel, life is not affected by
Britain urbanization but when Tess father dies the whole family is forced
to left their cottage as people are disposed. Employment increases as
people search for new jobs. Tess is forced to work on farms as harvester
People are replaced by machines and people are giving minor importance
to work rather than people. The novel is a direct criticism on English
