The importance of literature in our life

By Vanshika Choudhary 

Literature is the foundation of life. It places an emphasis on many topics ranging from human tragedies to the ever-popular tales of man’s search for love. While literature largely is written in the form of words, these words come alive in one’s mind through imagination.

Literature enables people to see through the eyes of others, therefore, it becomes a looking glass into the world from someone else’s perspective. It is a journey that is inscribed in pages and empowered by the imagination of the reader. Ultimately, literature has provided a gateway to teach the reader about life’s experiences that stem from both, the saddest as well as the most joyful of stories that touch the heart.

Since childhood, most of us are exposed to literature through the simple form of picture books that are mainly meant for teaching the alphabet. Although these picture books are nowhere near the complexity of an 800-page sci-fi novel, it is still the first step towards the literary world. Progressively, people explore other genres of books, ones that propel them towards an area of research.

Reading and being given the keys to the world of literature prepares an individual from an early age to discover the true meaning of life, to be able to see and understand situations from various perspectives.

Honestly speaking, it is impossible to be physically someone else. It is impossible to switch bodies with another human being and it is impossible to completely understand the complexity of their world. Literature as an alternative, is the closest thing the world has, which enables man to understand another person whole-heartedly. For instance, a novel about a terrible war written from the perspective of a soldier, allows the reader to imagine their pain without actually becoming that person. Thus, literature can act as a time machine, allowing individuals to go into a specific time period, as mentioned in the story. One then finds oneself into the mind and soul of the writer. Such is the beauty of literature and its importance in our life.