Literature is not merely writing; it possesses the power to transform our lives. This essay explores how literature influences us and the profound meaning we discover within it.
Throughout her life, my mother asked me, “What’s the point of studying literature if you can’t put it to practical use?” Only now do I offer her a belated answer. Literature is not a shortcut to power, and in that sense, it is not something to be “put to use.” Yet, paradoxically, literature makes use of the very fact that it cannot be put to practical use. By engaging in literature, we cannot save a single hungry person, nor do we make a fortune. Yet it is precisely for this reason that literature does not oppress people. Things that are useful to humans generally oppress them precisely because they are useful. Consider the suffocating frustration one feels when deprived of something useful. But because literature is not useful, it does not oppress people.
Because literature does not oppress, the stage of that primal sensation is accompanied by pleasure. Even now, I can still hear my mother’s voice from my childhood. On winter nights, she would bring out sweet potatoes, persimmons, or even just some dongchimi as a snack, and in a soft voice, she would tell me the story of Abel and Cain, or the story of one of her relatives who was punished for stealing, until I fell asleep. I vividly remember the fear and pain I felt back then. Yet how much I relished the pleasure provided by my mother’s soft voice beneath that pain and suffering! How wondrous and joyful were the imaginings that voice evoked! Within that joy, we feel a sense of fear regarding what we must not do, and a sense of duty regarding what we must do. It is a duty, but it is not oppression. It is a primal reflection and realization awakened by pleasure.
My mother’s stories were not mere fairy tales. They were a time to spread the wings of imagination while also imparting lessons on morality and ethics. Those moments went beyond simple enjoyment; they were precious times that led me to realize the truths of life. It was the accumulation of these memories that shaped my literary sensibility.
The pleasure derived from literature holds a meaning that goes beyond mere enjoyment. Literature enables readers to view the world from a new perspective and discover truths and beauty that are easily overlooked in daily life. In this process, readers confront emotions deeply rooted within themselves and form a sense of empathy with others. Through this emotional connection, literature bridges the gap between people and enriches human relationships.
Literature allows us to view the countless emotions and events we encounter in daily life from a fresh perspective. For example, literature keenly captures the nuances of emotion that we might easily overlook in everyday conversation, as well as the complexity of social issues. Through this, readers gain new insights and experience a profound understanding they had not previously considered.
Literature that does not oppress demonstrates how all forms of oppression have a negative effect on human beings. Because literary arguments themselves can oppress people, literature cannot present a clear-cut path. Through literature, people come to grasp the nature of both the oppressor and the oppressed and recognize the negative power inherent in these dynamics. A poignant poem awakens in its reader an awareness of what oppresses and brings unhappiness to humanity. When the protagonist of a novel, who has been pursuing true value, ultimately suffers defeat, we feel pain. By sharing in that pain, we are able to see the absurdities of the world that oppresses us, and we ultimately realize that human beings must live freely and happily. That is why we think about happiness with a sense of pain.
Literature is not mere entertainment. It reflects the society in which we live and serves to expose the absurdities and inequalities that occur within it. Literature is a mirror of society; in that mirror, we reflect on ourselves and dream of a better future.
Literature cannot save a starving beggar. However, literature exposes the very existence of that starving beggar as a scandal. In this way, it ultimately leads humanity toward happiness. Contemplating happiness in an age of suffering and hardship is a painful endeavor. Yet, as the French philosopher Bachelard said, human beings are born to breathe happily. How could one ever give up breathing freely? I cannot give up literature.
Furthermore, literature possesses the power to record history and foresee the future. From ancient epics to modern novels, literature has left a trail of humanity’s footsteps and played a vital role in helping us understand our present. Literature is a mirror of the times; within it, we can discover our own reflections and envision our future. This power of literature extends beyond individual stories to encompass the story of all humanity.
Literature gives meaning to our lives, helps us grasp the workings of the world, and enables deep reflection on human nature. Through literature, we gain a deeper understanding of the joys, sorrows, loves, and sorrows of humanity, which in turn inspires us to strive to become better people. For these reasons, I cannot give up literature, and I will continue to explore myself and the world through it.
Literature does not merely record stories of the past; it offers lessons for us in the present and serves as a guide for the future. Through literary works, we experience diverse aspects of life, which in turn enriches our own lives. 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 a meaning that goes beyond mere writing. It gives meaning to our lives, helps us understand the workings of the world, and enables deep reflection on human nature. For these reasons, I cannot give up literature, and I will continue to explore myself and the world through it.
