In these two different articles, two men, George Will and Stephen Greenblatt, argue about the main point or purpose of the Tempest, or just overall Literature itself. The articles display both their different views on how literature emphasizes on politics and ideology, most commonly in Shakespeare's literature.
George Will, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator, believes that literature is based off of Politics. For example, George states that, "All literature is, whether writers are conscious of it or not, political." He believes that literature's main purposes revolve around politics. In the Tempest, he explains that it "reflects the imperialist rape of the Third World." He thinks that literature is first and for most about Politics and everything else falls under that.
Stephen Greenblatt, the Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, has a whole different view on literature. He states that, " The Tempest is not about imperialism. (It is of course, about many other things, as well, including the magical power of the theatre.)" He believes that literature can be about politics, but that's not the main focus. He stresses the fact that literature teaches one a life lesson. For example, he explains that, "The Tempest has to teach us about forgiveness, wisdom, and social atonement if we do not also come to terms with its relations to colonialism." He thinks that literature conveys the emotions we feel and experience within our lifetime.
I myself believe that literature is more like what Stephen Greenblatt describes it as. He argues that literature is an expression of everything, and I don't feel like it is only limited to politics. To me, good literature is something I can connect with, whether or not it's something I am going through or am emotionally feeling. It's interesting to see and learn about certain things in a book that symbolize politics; however, I believe that an author uses the expression of human experiences and emotions to create good literature.
That's all folks! :)
Hi Maddy!! :) Good job on this post. I really enjoyed reading your summarization on the positions that Will and Greenblatt took on the issue at hand. Your simplification of their stance made it really easy to understand and flowed well.
ReplyDeleteI too agree that "good literature is something I can connect with, whether or not it's something I am going through or am emotionally feeling." I definitely get more out of a piece of literature when I have an emotional connection to it and am able to relate it to my life.
You basically hit the nail on the head by saying that "the author uses the expression of human experiences and emotions to create good literature." Thanks for opening up my eyes to things I had not yet realized about literature. GREAT post! Love you! :)
Thanks Taylor :))
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