This Quote I Have to Write About

Listen to this:

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary compentencies that daily live requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." -C.S. Lewis

This quote is what I'm supposed to write about, so here we go.

When Lewis said this, I believe that he meant that literature is not just stories written to describe the world we live in, but made to show us new wonders and views that we would not have otherwise seen. If something is written saying that a new government should be formed, or a law be made, that plan, that idea, is added to the world and may be used later to help form and regulate the world. When fiction is written, it is not just making up something, but actually creating a part of the world where that happens, where some ideas from that world come to ours. It's like when a classic is written, and everyone in school reads and knows it, seeing why those people do those things and remember them. Memories are powerful, and they can bring those otherworld thoughts into this one to change and reformat our lives. When he mentions our lives as deserts, I think he means that our lives are so ordinary and expected without surprises, that it is like a desert, barren and boring to be in. When you read of other worlds, it brings new things and change to the ordinary, like irrigating and nourishing our lives so that we like living in them. Then, once the new is accepted, it's added to the desert and we need to add more interest again.

This works with my book specifically for two reasons: the characters in the book experience it, and the book has that effect on the world. The characters, especially Cathy and Hindley, see this desert example through Heathcliff's arrival. Their lives were peacefully boring beforehand, but then Heathcliff changed their lives. Cathy's liffe would be calm, less drama, less mischief, and probably would have been a better, if bored, person. Hindley wouldn't have been so bad, so mean, and most often less drunk. Heathcliff put all those bad things in him. They both got good things from him too though. Cathy never would have experienced what love really was without him and Hindley never would have been sent away (for constantly trying to beat up Heathcliff) and found his wife on his travels.

In our world, you probably couldn't find one college graduate or student that hasn't read it. It is the standard for high-school and a major classic, one of the best known ever. It influences this world by showing your love is always your defining trait, and without it we have nothing. As Heathcliff said, "I cannot live without my love! I cannot live without my life!". It also is a huge booster and encouragement to be nice. Why? Because everyone in this book is either crazy, dead, cruel, or just stupid. Their faults are all you can see at first until you look deeper. The same happens in real life. People see why they should avoid you first and reasons to like you later. This is like a shout out to avoid those faults so you don't have all these troubles.

Sorry for everyone who hated that because I rambled on so much.
I couldn't help it.

Ciao for now,

Carli