Forging a Path to Success Through Literature

When first considering the question, “What is success?” words such as achievements, goals, and freedom come to mind. For myself and perhaps others, success is the ability to be proud of what you have accomplished and have the freedom to pursue one’s interests. Literature is an excellent medium to explore success because, as said in the video What is Literature for?, “literature is the greatest reality simulator because it puts you through infinitely more situations than you could ever directly witness” (0:36-0:45). A reader can immerse themselves in the world through another perspective, learning lessons they otherwise may not have learned.

Through literature, we may not be able to experience the reality of other lives; however, we can go through the story's emotional journey. A reader experiences situations from different periods in time or cultures, experiences that they may not reasonably be able to participate in their lifetimes naturally. If literature can bring oneself through various situations, it should give the reader a general sense of direction in life. Perhaps living these experiences can provide perspective to the reader on what motivates them in life or what is a valuable use of one’s time. Through these processes, one can create and fulfill meaningful goals.

One of the main aspects of success is believing you are living a meaningful life and creating some change in the world, whether benefiting society or a smaller group such as family. Similarly, nothing is less successful than living a stagnant life or a life without impacting others. Through literature, learning from the mistakes and successes of those before and around us, it is possible to find meaning in our lives. Through experiencing infinite life situations through literature, it is important to discover what aspects of those lives you want to carry onto yours and what aspects you want to leave behind. For everyone, the idea of success varies greatly; however, the one thing we should all have is the opportunity to discover our goals and pursue a meaningful purpose in life as we have time.

In my opinion, I believe that people inherently live a closed-off life, focused on their community, unaware of how others in the world live their lives. I think literature can allow us to give thanks for the good things in our lives and explore ideas unfamiliar to our culture. In the US, these ideas may include Western medicine or different familial roles. The customs or ideas that have benefitted another group for generations should be valued by the reader for the learning and benefit it could bring to their own life.