Literature supersedes narrow interests and empowers universality. It unveils the strength that never glorifies any vested interest of any class and develops a platform as a whole in favor of humanity.
It never deals with a specific society associated with a community. It mainly signifies human society as a whole. And that is why literature becomes more transparent when associated with spoken words than written words because they appear more appealing to human minds.
The recited poems of John Keats or the acted plays of Shakespeare empower more universal appeals than those creative works which only represent a particular social segment related to a specific social class.
Words that depict the individual standpoints more vividly, portray the manner of a community or specialize in certain problems can’t have the same exposure to universality.
Literature supersedes narrow interests and connotes a universal appeal to human emotions:
Literary works include the interests of human beings as well as connote an appeal to human emotions. It is a prime undeniable truth that the literature of the Teutonic and Greek periods has some superficial notes that may raise several vital questions about the real notions.
But it is also true that good literature means a piece of art that specifies no nationality. And this feature makes nearly all the pieces of art of these mentioned periods as evidence of mass appeal.
These works of art chiefly occupy emotions and passions like joy and sorrow, hate and love, fear and faith. It is, no doubt, true that these are the essential sections of human nature. Moreover, reflections of these natures make literary work much closer to the human mind. Their existence through words awakens more responses in men.
Touchy words open up the opportunity to respond to the parable of a prodigal trait:
When readers find heroic men, they begin to acknowledge Homer’s mastery. When stories uncover the existence of an evil phenomenon, they find a source hidden in the famous “Book of Job.” When a storyline involves parents’ painful patronage of their offspring, it certainly implies the tragic sorrow of King Lear.
The truth is these are nothing but prominent examples of the actual trends of human nature in the shape of novels, dramas, or poems that plead with universal human interests and make them permanent.
On the other hand, modern literature is more acute in pointing towards a more restricted appeal. These restrictions sometimes result from a specific type of patronage that involves or relates to a tendency toward a particular ideology. That means authors with this tendency mainly produce works that can primarily relate to their patron family.
However, it doesn’t mean limiting the delicacy of their works. Their refined perspectives and robust opinions give birth to valuable pieces of mastery. In a word, a contrast is visible among the authors when there is a minute comparison between the old and the new.
A comparison between the works of Chaucer and the ballad-writers identifies this contrast.
No one can deny the perfection and efficacy of Chaucer as an artist. Also, his profound insight into human lives is undeniable. But, critics say he lacks that spontaneity, which brings the ballad-writers more closure to human thoughts.
Literature supersedes narrow interests but at the same time develops patronage for the complexity while expressing opinions through language:
Words do not always explore simple thoughts. They sometimes produce complexity in expression. And this trend is more detectable among modern writers. Expressing one’s feelings through words can create a pioneering piece of literature. But, simultaneously expressing an opinion through words can be a piece of complex thought.
Many famous poets and writers already identified this fact many years ago. They stressed using the language, which involves common or everyday speech.
The truth is when an author’s words unchain the shackles of class limitations and portray the feelings of the working community to establish a communication with the commoner’s feelings; he conforms to that common or everyday speech doctrine.
Literature is a blend of universal elements and particulars:
What does it mean by a universal element?
A universal element indicates that part that should remain true for all ages and times.
And particulars indicate that part which is true of customs, events, and culture of an age.
An author can have these two things in his words while depicting an individual life to make it a part of universal appeal.
Now, a crucial fact is words containing only universality can, for sure, supersede narrow interests, but the absence of particulars must produce dull content.
The Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer are genuine instances of blending universal elements and particulars. These two epic poems include amusement, disgust, and even surprise, and thus live forever.
Critics say Homer’s creation involves some subtle difficulty and peculiarity that remained absent in his contemporary Greek culture. However, this peculiarity uncovers his individuality as the legendary author.
And without individuality, there is no identity in literature.
The reality is Homer never lived as a Greek because then he would be a dead persona. It is none other than his immortal poetry with the universal element that ultimately gave rise to a Homer who lives for all ages and times. In truth, a man who blends the elixir of immortality with universal truth.
An author can live forever with a distinctive imagination, feelings, and a concoction of various meaningful outlooks. His reading of life helps him to establish communication with the readers.
Also, the fusion of his deep thoughts taken from the chaos of human lives has paramount significance for all.
For every individual creator, literature is a style that embodies a combination of minimum impersonality and maximum personality. It is a trait that concentrates on peculiar as well as personal emotions. And these emotions together invent a thing that works as the manifestation of life.
In conclusion, no particular antithesis exists between a personal and an impersonal art in literature. It is, in reality, an effort of a sincere creator who turns his personal impressions into a universal pattern.
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