The Transformation of World Literature

Name Tutor Course Date The Transformation of World Literature Over the last few centuries, literature has transformed a great deal, and in doing so has significantly affected how writing is structured, perceived, and executed. In essence, the complete gamut of how literature is composed has been subjected to the changes experienced in the society and in doing so has shifted the core issues that literature addresses (Lehan 228). It is important to accept that literature has transformed a great deal since the 1800s, but also to acknowledge that the transformation in question relies predominantly on the issues that the society faces and that authors seek to highlight in their quest to enlighten the world (Jones 34-38). In this regard, accepting these changes plays a central role in not only better understanding the motivations behind literature, but also ensures that said literature is better appreciated. Style and Composition Over time, the style and composition of literature has changed a great deal across the world. This change was mainly influenced by the development and adoption of naturalism as a literary style and the subsequent rejection of romanticism (Lehan 231-237). This transformation perhaps embodied the most significant literary change from the 1800s to the present, and is one that significantly shaped the development and adoption of other literary styles and concepts. By comparing literary pieces influenced by romanticism and by naturalism, it becomes clear how literature has transformed. For instance, a literary piece such as Oedipus Rex, in spite of being a dramatic piece with significantly vital themes, is romantic in nature. Oedipus is pushed to blinding himself out of the fury of discovering that he had slept with and married his own mother (Sophocles). This in itself is the noble thing to do, and the idea of one blinding themselves as a punishment for their incest is itself noble and romantic. From a naturalist standpoint, however, this is not the case. For instance, in Heart of Darkness, Marlow chooses not to reveal the truth about Kurtz and his idea that all native savages need to be killed when presenting his final report to The Company. While this is a noble act and one that partly protects the legacy of Kurtz, it is inherently influenced by the environment in which Marlow finds himself (Bloom 45-47). The fact that Kurtz has a respectable reputation makes it difficult for Marlow to willingly tarnish it by telling the truth, which was a common aspect of the environment in which the author existed. In the age of naturalism, such an act is considered noble in spite of the fact that it is lie. These two stories significantly underscore the transformation of literary styles from the 1800s onward. While Oedipus Rex focuses on the romantic ideas that govern human interactions and emotions such as truth, nobility, and virtue, Heart of darkness takes on a naturalistic approach by demonstrating how the society’s perception of a character (Kurtz as being noble and virtuous) influences human character (pushes Marlow into hiding the truth about Kurtz’s character and savagery). This is a significant demonstration of how actions that are considered noble and virtuous were transformed from the age of romanticism into the age of naturalism. Nonetheless, it is equally vital to note that although the literary style transformed over time, the composition of stories changed very little, if at all. The fact that the characters developed in both Oedipus Rex and Heart of Darkness embody different values does not detract from the fact that both authors did well to develop characters that are relatable to readers (Bloom 71, Sophocles). Both Marlow and Oedipus are characters that resonate with readers due to their flaws. In this way, readers can see glimpses of themselves in the characters, which goes a long way towards ensuring that the story in question is relatable and engaging. In this aspect of character development, little to no transformation has been observed since the 1800s. As such, there is significant transformation of literary style and composition from the 1800s. While this transformation has influenced other literary aspects, it has failed to significantly transform aspects of character development which have largely remained the same (Lemos and Gomes 168-171). Thematic Concerns As far as thematic concerns in literature are concerned, it is vital to note that literature essentially serves as a mirror to the society (Lehan 240-241). Through literature, the society can take a hard look at themselves in the full measure of their strengths and weaknesses. In this regard, it becomes important to understand how thematic concerns have transformed in world literature over the years. When examining thematic concerns of literature, it is almost impossible to attribute particular concerns to a specific time period (Jones 67-71). This is mainly because particular thematic concerns are based on significant human questions that continue to puzzle humanity to the present day. For instance, the theme of fate is particularly well-addressed in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus ...