Does Literature Lie ????

Does literature lie???

Does literature lie or it expresses universal truth?, that is the question arise in my mind while studying literature.

          I want to put forward my arguments with the books like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dr, Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, a story that is in the 12^th English and even Paradise Lost by John Milton.

                                                                               Let me start by Dr. Faustus – a play by Christopher Marlowe. Setting of this play is in Renaissance era. Very impressive description description is given in the first monologue.  He is the scholar from the university from of Wittenberg. He has acquired all the knowledge available at that time, like history, economics, medicine, law, physics and many other fields. I can say that he has acquired such a large quantity of knowledge in 16^th century that may not have common people of 21^st century. Dr. Faustus was synonym of knowledge.

                                                                               But then even he was not satisfied with the knowledge he has!!!!!!!! He was still hungry for more knowledge.

And then to gain more knowledge he makes contract with Mephistopheles- a devil, that Mephistopheles will give him power and after 24 years  Faustus will give her soul to devil. Dr. Faustus willingly accepts this!!!!!!!!!

                                                                               And Ultimately, Faustus in last monologue regrets and suffers a lot and dies   a tragic death.

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                                                                               Now my point is that why knowledge is portrayed in negative  shade by writer. The question in my mind is that whether writers know universal- ultimate truth or they (writers) are also biased? Is knowledge really destroy person or writer portrays it like this because the contemporary society believed so?

If we glance in the field  of science and technology then we come to know that knowledge of anything is becoming boon for mankind. Edison, Newton, Einstein etc scientist were also hungry  for more knowledge, and it is because of their thrust for knowledge we ‘ve  electricity, technological gadgets, mobiles, heavy machinery, mobiles, engines, transportation, progress in aeronautics (space), internet etc.  all these things are essential part of our day to day life.

                                                                               If these things won’t be there then we are still like cave men. what  is the difference between them and us.

Modern progress and development became possible only possible because of basic human nature- desire to know more.

                                                                               now  if one tries to get knowledge what is wrong in that – that  he is portrayed in negative way and given tragic end to his life.

Person like Faustus and Victor Frankenstein are like candle. they burn themselves and  give light to others. It is only because of their sacrifice  personal lives and hard work, we enjoy all the privileges of our lives.

Another example is  victor Frankenstein- a protagonist of the novel ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley.

                                                                               He was an eccentric scientist, who wants to know the secret of life. He gives so many years of his lives to the research that  it is possible to make dead person alive by electricity.  And after a dedicated, determined hard work of  long time he did so. He joints the different parts of the corpse and creates a monster- life into a  dead one!!!!!!!!!

And then the novel is full of suffering and pain of victor. He loses all his near and dear- father, mother, brother and even his beloved Elizabeth. (all killed by monster) and ultimately victor dies a tragic death.

                                                                               Now again the question comes into my mind is that why Mary Shelley gave tragic end to Victor? Why gaining a secrets of life- knowledge is curse rather than boon in the novel?

Is this the warning to the 21^st century people ( or any living being)  that don’t run behind knowledge otherwise  you will also suffer like Victor!!!!!!! Is any writer can see what we common people cannot see? Or is it true that “ Knowledge is unhappiness and Ignorance is bliss ?

 Or writers are also biased ? or  they have done injustice to their character. Because they cannot think beyond social norms.

Renaissance and Romanticism was a time when people were slowly and steadily coming out from from dark age towards light. People have started to develop scientific approach in their life. Rather than religion science was predominating every spheres of life.

If writer is universal genius then why he prefers religion over science?   To please few groups of people?  To earn money? Or to threat people?

Even the same case with the Paradise Lost by John Milton. Where God punishes Adam and Eve for eating  a fruit of knowledge. But why???? What is wrong in that???

In developed countries like U.S, Japan and many others have prepared  highly modern robots. Slowly we are moving into the era of robotic culture. Recently I have read in newspaper that Robots are used as a waiters in restaurant. Recently there was soccer competition of robots, which was won by Australia. NASA is also sending robots into  space. List is long……………

My point for talking about the role of robots in 21^st century  is that  IN ONE OR THE ANOTHER WAY

ROBOTS ARE ALSO EQUAL TO THE MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN.  Basic idea to create like into dead one  by electricity is taken from. Traces of this idea is into the mind of Victor Frankenstein.

                                                                               It  (Robots) is becoming boon for for us then why Monster becomes curse for Victor??  Or because of that era writer don’t realize its importance.

Should  we think in this way or it  is indication  (like movie Robot) that this artificial intelligence will one day create problem for its creator???

One more example that I give that is a story from 12^th English.

                                                                               The setting of  this story is 2094- in future and in this  story technology is portrayed as villainous.

It is a story of a school girl who don’t like her mechanical teacher. ( mechanical teacher means computer) there was a computer in her room where she used to study  whole day. There was some error in her mechanical teacher , so that girl was relaxed- felling happy. But  her mother calls technician and makes computer functioning well. Then  her grandfather gives her book about school but that girl hates even name of school. It was a printed book. She has never seen printed book in her life. She was surprised to see stable words on book. This school girl considers  it stupid that what is the use of this printed book once after  it read. She has so many books on her computer screen.

But then her grandfather tells her that IT IS A BOOK ABOUT THE SCHOOL THEY HAD.

Then her grandfather tells her story – once there were TEACHERS  ( HUMAN BEING) to teach children. Then girl speaks beautiful  sentence that HOW CAN A MAN BE A TEACHER? ( because of high technological  era she was taught only by the computers.)

The girl exclaimed that I will not allow  any unknown person to enter into my ho use. At that time her grandfather laughed and replied that teachers do not come home to teach you.

                                                                               There was separate rooms and buildings for students. All boys and girls were going there to study. It was a place called school. Then there is wonderful description of REAL SCHOOL. The girl lost into the stories of her grandfather &  thinks about the days THEY HAD.- A DAY OF REAL SCHOOL. Where every one was studying, laughing, playing, enjoying together.( helping each other in homework, going school on bicycle, a time when teachers were real man)  REALLY EDUCATION-SCHOOL WAS NOT MONOTONOUS AS IT IS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

This story, like many other stories is an futuristic vision of writer, that what kind of schools will be there in the days to come. That school will be in your  drawing room. Teachers will be replaced by the computers and lifeless, dull, monotonous teaching –learning will be there. Education won’t be interesting as it is now. Computers can give you knowledge but it can’t  give you love, affection and sympathy which teacher can. If teachers  will be replaced by the computers then it  will kill the basic spirit of children.

This is the thing I think writer wants to tell through this story.

                                                                               Now the question comes in my mind is that why educational technology is shown as harmful ? as I have asked in earlier parts , that same question can be ask here again also.

( as generally it is said and believed in literature) if writers are extraordinary human being with futuristic insight  then will it be true what he is telling in his story? Is it a prediction for human race or HE IS A TRADITIONAL, ORTHODOX PERSON WHO CANNOT THINK BEYOND SOMETHING.                                                      

I have read and observed  that new things (invented) are not easily accepted by the people. You will be surprised to  know that when electricity was invented, most of the people were protesting it, rather than supporting it. Now can you live today without electricity??? ( it means that contemporary people were wrong) so writers are also part of that society who don’t realize the importance of new thing.

During Industrial Revolution heavy machinery was invented.  At that time also people were protesting it- that it will replace human being.

There are still some people who prefer bullock cart over tractors in agriculture ( farming)

My point is that every new things faces problems initially. Contemporary people with traditional, orthodox mentality faces problems in accepting new things.

IS THIS THE SAME CASE IN THIS STORY???????

EVERY coin has two side. I am not denying negative parts of any. My point particularly about this story is that – think about the  positive changes technology can bring in teaching- learning process. Audio, video, images and internet can give far better learning experience which only teacher and ‘chalk and talk method’ can’t.

Teacher, even though efficient , master and specialist in his subject cannot explain the  outside world really as it is. By sitting in your classroom you cannot explain the glory of the African  Jungle, but you can do that easily by showing video.

You can neither go in space nor explain  SPACE ( stars, galaxy, planets) but you can show images and videos about that to do it in better way.

It is proved through research that  Audio- Visual teaching aids creates better understanding as well as this points goes into long term memory of student.

                                                                               Volcano, flood, earthquake, water- air pollution, internal body mechanism, historically important places, rivers, wonders of the world………etc… for students it is not possible to visit but technology is boon that you can show anything through  video or images as per need. It saves time and money too.

Then why writer of that story focuses only on  negative aspects of that?

So what do you think……..???? may I ask you a question      DOES LITERATURE   LIE  ????   ……OR ….????