"The Relationship Between Literature and Society" by Ashani Chakraborty

From the ancient ages it has been observed that literature and society are very strongly interwoven with one another. It can even be stated that literature is a mirror to society. Every work of literature, starting from the ancient epics to the post modern texts, in some way reflects the societal reality of the times. Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" mirrors the spirit of the Renaissance age to challenge every boundary that limits human freedom whereas Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" reflects the existential crisis and mental agony experienced by the whole of humanity. Though the purpose of literature is not merely to act as a mirror to societal reality, it is undoubtedly one of it's most major aims. Not only does literature depict the societal condition of the times but it often presents a picture of a better and more evolved society and inspires us to work towards building such a society. Thus, literature is and will forever remain inseperable from societal reality and sometimes even play a considerable role in shaping that reality.