What I find most fascinating about literature is the way in which it both reflects and influences the course of history, allowing the reader to gaze into the heart of humanity. In the words of Salman Rushdie, ‘Literature is where I go to explore the highest and lowest places in human society and in the human spirit’; which encapsulates what drives me to pursue the study of literature.
I have experienced this through reading modern, horrific texts like ‘American Psycho’ as I am enthralled by the paradoxical way in which society condemns violence yet arguably, has a primal desire for it. Similarly, I have found the dystopian worlds presented in texts such as ‘Brave New World’ and ‘Never let me go’ engrossing due to the way in which they too hold a mirror to our own society as effective socio-political critiques. I admire the former for its damning critique of capitalism and the latter for demonstrating the dangers of eugenics. The moral questions raised by these texts also compliment my academic study of philosophy; by reading Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ as a critique of utilitarianism for example, the impracticality of the theory is demonstrated.
Conversely, I have become fascinated by the art of language itself through my own wider reading of works by writers such as Hélène Cixous and Jacques Derrida. This has exposed me to ideas from the relationship between language and the construction of meaning to the theory that language is not truly neutral. My discovery of such ideas I have found liberating and it inspired me to read texts from a range of periods and genres which pushed the predetermined boundaries of language of their time. This includes Virginia Wolf’s experimentation in ‘Mrs Dalloway’ by writing as a ‘stream of consciousness’ and the way in which modernist poets rejected the style and themes of romanticism in favour of using simple, everyday language to depict isolation.
My pursuit of acting, in which I have achieved a LAMDA grade 8, has encouraged me to explore various dramatic forms and has added to my knowledge of how performance can impact an audience. Though my portrayal of Lady Macbeth I was able to gain a greater understanding of how Shakespeare’s portrayal of women usurped the stereotypes of his Jacobean audience than I could have through reading the play alone. I find other renaissance plays such as Marlowe’s ‘Faustus’ just as thought provoking through the way in which it challenged the traditional Christian framework whilst reshaping the ideology of a traditional morality play and of a conventional tragedy.
My love for creative writing has complimented my academic study of literature, this includes writing regular articles for two local newspapers and writing short stories which were selected to be read regularly at a children’s ward. These experiences were thoroughly enjoyable but also highly valuable for understanding the creative process behind literary works which I feel is imperative in order to truly appreciate the finished product. Furthermore, my experience writing for children brought me back to the simplicity of language and the way in which it allows people to become detached from reality; this is what first sparked my interest in the study of literature.
I have also taken part in Model United Nations conferences and completed work experience in the offices of Westminster which has enhanced my ability to think critically and engage in debate in front of an audience. These experiences have triggered a love for politics which is reflected in my reading of texts such as ‘1984’and Fahrenheit 451′. I believe it is crucial to have an understanding of global politics when studying literature as it is the socio-political climate in which a novel is written that shapes the ideas presented to the reader. It would be wrong to read ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ without first considering Attwood’s feminism and why, as a result, the oppressive Gileadean regime can be aligned with the rise of Reaganism. Thus, what I find so engrossing about studying literature is the way in which the influence of literary context on an author effects their narrative, which combines my interest in literature with both politics and history.
