Surviving Literature

"The fact that we always interpret literary works to some extent in the light of of our own concerns - indeed that in one sense of 'our own concerns' we are incapable of doing anything else - might be one reason why certain works of literature seem to retain their value across the centuries."

Although people change with time, there are values that remain intact throughout the ages. A commonly used motif in literature is love. The concept of love is an idealized theme that is yearned and desired by many. It is a common source of motivation, as well as tension. Many frenzied and unforeseeable acts are committed on the account of love. Even though the societal characteristics and values that define an ideal mate change, the hope that one can love and be loved remains intact. Most of the literature throughout the ages utilize the idealized, rather than the realistic, qualities of love. But it is a dream, a wisp of reality, that brings people together throughout the generations.

However, other works of literature receive their merits because it is reflective of the cultural and societal values of their era. Literature does not always have to be reflective of our time in order to survive. Sometimes it is the discovery of something different and unique that triggers interest in readers.