Novels

Do you see any value in reading novels? Do novels have anything to teach us about society? (Hint: research Uncle Tom's Cabin). Does it work as a mirror, giving us a reflection of ourselves (society) in which we may see flaws? Can literature move a society to change? Can you think of any novels that have changed your life or changed the way you view society (current or historical)?


I think that reading novels is a great way to escape reality. It allows your imagination to create a picture in your head of what is going on in the story, and live that story out. Novels also let you see things from another perspective. I believe that some novels show us what society values and they sometimes teach meaningful lessons that are timeless. It is cool to be able to read a story from a different time period and see how things have changed for the better or worse. Like "To Kill A Mockingbird" or even "The Castle of Otranto." Novels definitely work like a mirror and reflect society. In what we have read so far in class that is fairly obvious, especially in regards to gender roles of the time and the people's view of government. Even the stories written that take place in the future deal with social values and political issues. I think it would be hard for any author not to allow what is happening in society to affect their writing, because their own beliefs are molded by the times. I can't think of a novel that has changed the way I view society but I am sure that I have been influenced in little ways many times through reading novels.