Why Shouldn’t We Confuse Literature and Reality?

Literature mirrors reality, reflecting its nuances, complexities, and darkest corners. It offers a unique opportunity to experience hypothetical scenarios and reflect on human actions, engaging with possible realities that may not have occurred. While mirroring reality, literature also transcends it by creating a space where deeper truths and abstract concepts can be explored without the constraints of the real world. This essay will discuss why we should not confuse literature with reality by examining Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, and The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco to illustrate how literature reflects, critiques, and transcends reality.

Aristotle, in Poetics, posited that literature is not just an imitation of life but a profound reflection of human experiences and emotions. According to Aristotle, the power of literature lies in its ability to represent reality while exploring the inner workings of the human psyche. This duality allows literature to examine universal truths and moral questions, providing readers with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. By examining the selected literary works through this Aristotelian lens, we can appreciate how they use fantastical and historical elements to mirror and critique real-world issues, revealing the inner worlds of characters, their emotions, and experiences.

To illustrate this concept, we can begin with an analysis of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This novel introduces readers to a magical world parallel to the characters’ mundane reality. The magical elements, such as spells, magical creatures, and enchanted objects, contrast with the ordinary, often harsh, reality of Harry’s life with the Dursleys. Through this magical world, Rowling reflects on and critiques real-world issues, including prejudice, power, and the struggles of growing up. According to Heilman (2003), the use of magical realism in the novel allows young readers to explore complex social issues within a fantastical context. Nikolajeva (2009) discusses how the discrimination faced by “Muggle-borns” mirrors real-world racism and bigotry, highlighting societal prejudices. The Mirror of Erised, which shows the characters’ deepest desires, is a prime example of this. Harry’s longing for family and Ron’s desire for recognition reflect profound personal yearnings, emphasizing literature’s ability to portray internal realities and desires. By creating a fantastical world, Rowling provides a safe space for readers to explore complex themes that they might not fully engage with in reality.

Similarly, Haruki Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World presents two parallel narratives: one set in a futuristic, dystopian Tokyo and the other in a surreal, dream-like town. The novel’s structure blends a gritty, technological dystopia with an allegorical, fantastical world. Murakami explores themes of consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality. The futuristic Tokyo narrative deals with technological advancements and their impact on human consciousness, while the surreal town narrative reflects on memory and the self. Strecher (1999) argues that Murakami uses magical realism to explore themes of consciousness and identity, offering a critique of modern technological intrusion into human thought processes. Rubin (2002) highlights how Murakami’s narrative structure creates a layered reflection on reality, providing deeper insights into the human condition.

In the “Hard-Boiled Wonderland” narrative, the protagonist’s job as a “Calcutec” involves encrypting data in his subconscious, symbolizing the intrusion of technology into human thought processes. Conversely, in “The End of the World,” the protagonist’s task of reading dreams from unicorn skulls symbolizes the search for hidden truths within the mind. Murakami’s dual narratives exemplify how literature can create layered reflections on reality, offering deeper insights into the human condition.

In addition, Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose is a historical mystery set in a 14th-century Benedictine monastery, blending detective fiction with rich historical and philosophical content. While grounded in historical reality, the novel’s intricate plot and intertextual references elevate it beyond mere historical fiction. Eco uses the setting of a medieval monastery to explore themes such as the conflict between reason and faith, the pursuit of knowledge, and the dynamics of power. Eco (1994) himself reflects on how setting the narrative in the past allows for a critique of contemporary issues, such as censorship and the control of information. The murder mystery at the novel’s heart serves as a metaphor for the quest for truth in a world rife with deception and dogma. The character of the librarian, Jorge of Burgos, represents the gatekeeping of knowledge and the dangers of censorship. His role and downfall highlight the perils of controlling information and the importance of intellectual freedom. By setting his narrative in the past, Eco critiques contemporary issues in a way that direct commentary might not achieve.

Comparing these works, we see that while Rowling uses a magical world to address themes of prejudice and power, Murakami’s dual narratives explore the intrusion of technology into human consciousness and the search for hidden truths, and Eco employs a historical setting to dissect contemporary issues. Each author uses fantastical or historical elements to mirror and critique reality, highlighting different aspects of the human experience. This comparative analysis showcases the diverse ways literature can reflect and transform our understanding of the world.

In conclusion, literature, through its reflective and transformative nature, allows us to explore and critique reality in ways that pure factual representation cannot. By examining Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and The Name of the Rose, we see how each work uses fantastical and historical elements to mirror real-world issues, offering deeper insights and fostering a greater understanding of our own world. This distinction between literature and reality underscores the unique power of literary works to challenge, reflect, and transform our perceptions of the world. Personally, I believe literature opens a gate to experience realities we have never encountered and never will. It simulates futures that haven’t happened and won’t happen, yet it leaves us with a wealth of experiences. Literature can reveal things that some people cannot understand through ordinary experiences and words. It can dismantle deep-rooted bigotry by making the reader empathize with fantastic narratives. Sometimes, literature brings light to the darkest lives by giving them hope. At other times, it shatters delusions by awakening people to reality. Literature is an art that both nourishes the human soul and explores the hidden and dark corners of it.

Diana Fernfox

Works Cited

• Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by S. H. Butcher, Hill and Wang, 1961.
• Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bloomsbury, 1997.
• Murakami, Haruki. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Kodansha International, 1985.
• Eco, Umberto. Postscript to the Name of the Rose. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1994.
• Heilman, Elizabeth E. “Harry Potter’s World: An Exploration of Magical Realism and Its Relevance to Young Readers.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, vol. 47, no. 1, 2003, pp. 48-55.
• Nikolajeva, Maria. “The Power of Semiotics in the Interpretation of Fantasy.” Journal of Aesthetic Education, vol. 43, no. 1, 2009, pp. 33-47.
• Rubin, Jay. Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words. Harvill Press, 2002.
• Strecher, Matthew C. “Magical Realism and the Search for Identity in the Fiction of Murakami Haruki.” Journal of Japanese Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 1999, pp. 263-298.
• Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose. Harcourt, 1983.