Literature Is The Expression Of The Thoughts Of Society

English anatomist Professor Thomas Huxley once stated that â€Å"Literature is the expression of the thoughts of society. Books are specimens of the conversations of an age, persevered in the spirit of taste and of genius†. In other words, literature conveys an understanding of society and books are a gateway into the themes and culture of other time periods. Culture is the traditions, convictions, and state of mind of a specific group of people. The beliefs of one group of people to another often differentiate the groups; and over the course of time, has led to a plethora of different cultures with various social values and traditions. Understanding cultural context is important to achieve a full realization of literature. By understanding the qualities of a society, the reader is able to better comprehend the themes and importance in literature. For example, there was a huge conflict over the power of knowledge between Medieval and Renaissance times, at this time Christopher Marlowe concocted Doctor Faustus. Subsequently Moliere wrote The Misanthrope. The play satirizes the hypocrisies of French aristocratic society. Lastly, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest shows the satire and significance of the code of morals in high society during the Victorian Age. An understanding of a culture is necessary to grasp the themes within literature. To completely fathom the conflict over the power of knowledge, one must have a full understanding of the culture during the period ofShow MoreRelatedAnalytical Essay On Fahrenheit 4511044 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship leads the society to an unpleasant conclusion. Censorship amounts prohibition of expression of someone’s ideas, thoughts which may be detrimental and prejudicial to a particular class of people. 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