Literature is not mere writing; it possesses the power to transform our lives. This essay explores the impact literature has on us and the profound meaning we uncover within it.
Throughout her life, my mother asked me, “What good is studying literature that you can’t even use?” Only now do I offer her a belated answer. Literature is not a shortcut to power; in that sense, it is not something to be used. Yet paradoxically, literature uses precisely that very uselessness. By writing literature, we cannot save a single hungry person, nor can we earn great wealth. Yet precisely because of this, literature does not oppress humanity. Things useful to humans generally oppress them precisely because they are useful. Consider the frustration when something useful is lacking. But literature does not oppress humanity because it is not useful.
Because literature does not oppress, its primal stage of feeling is accompanied by pleasure. Even now, I hear my mother’s voice from childhood. On winter nights, she would bring out sweet potatoes or persimmons, or even just radish kimchi as a snack, and in a soft voice, she would tell me the story of Abel and Cain, or the tale of one of her acquaintances who was punished for stealing, until I fell asleep. I vividly remember the fear and pain I felt then. Yet how much I relished the pleasure that her soft voice gave beneath that pain and suffering! How astonishing and delightful were the imaginings that voice evoked! Within that pleasure, we feel the fear of what we must not do and the sense of duty for what we must do. It is duty, but not oppression. It is a primal reflection and realization awakened by pleasure.
My mother’s stories were not merely old tales. They were lessons in morality and ethics, while also being a time to spread the wings of imagination. Those moments transcended simple enjoyment; they were precious times that revealed life’s truths. These accumulated memories shaped my literary sensibility.
The pleasure experienced through literature holds meaning beyond simple enjoyment. Literature enables readers to view the world through fresh eyes, discovering truths and beauty easily overlooked in daily life. In this process, readers confront emotions deeply rooted within themselves and form bonds of empathy with others. Through this emotional communion, literature bridges the distance between people and enriches human relationships.
Literature enables us to view the myriad emotions and events we encounter daily through fresh eyes. For instance, it keenly captures the subtle emotional nuances we might overlook in everyday conversation or the complexities of social issues. Through this, readers gain new insights and experience a depth of understanding they hadn’t previously considered.
Unoppressive literature reveals how all forms of oppression negatively impact humanity. Since literary assertions themselves can oppress, literature cannot offer clear solutions. Through literature, humans grasp the nature of both oppression and being oppressed, recognizing its negative force. A single poignant poem awakens in its reader an awareness of what oppresses and brings misery to humanity. When a protagonist who pursued true value in a novel ultimately suffers defeat, we feel pain. By sharing that pain, we come to see the absurdity of the world that oppresses us and realize that humans must live freely and happily. That is why we think of happiness with pain.
Literature is not mere entertainment. It reflects the society we live in and serves to expose the absurdities and inequalities that occur within it. Literature is a mirror of society; within that mirror, we reflect on our own image and dream of a better future.
Literature cannot save a starving beggar. Yet literature turns the existence of that starving beggar into a scandal. Thus, it ultimately leads humanity toward happiness. Thinking about happiness in an era of suffering and hardship is painful. But as the French philosopher Bachelard said, humans are beings born to breathe happily. How could one abandon breathing well? I cannot abandon literature.
Furthermore, literature possesses the power to record history and foresee the future. From ancient epics to modern novels, literature has left humanity’s footprints and played a vital role in understanding our present. Literature is a mirror of the times; within it, we discover our own reflection and envision our future. This power of literature extends beyond individual stories to encompass the narrative of all humanity.
Literature gives meaning to our lives, helps us grasp the principles of the world, and enables deep reflection on human nature. Through literature, we gain a deeper understanding of human joys and sorrows, inspiring us to strive to become better people. For these reasons, I cannot abandon literature, and I will continue to explore myself and the world through it.
Literature does not merely record past stories; it offers lessons for us today and serves as a guide for the future. Within literary works, we experience diverse facets of life, enriching our own existence. Literature grants us freedom of thought, allows us to spread our wings of imagination, and ultimately inspires us to dream of a better world.
Therefore, literature holds meaning beyond mere writing. It imbues our lives with significance, helps us grasp the principles of the world, and enables profound reflection on human nature. For these reasons, I cannot abandon literature and will continue to explore myself and the world through it.
