Optimism in Literature and Its Impact on Readers

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Optimism in Literature
Conclusion
References

Introduction

A smile is one of the few things that can inspire and cheer a person up, even if they are completely emotionally drained. My parents always say to me that I have been a smiling human being since birth. Moreover, many of my relatives and friends often called me an amiable person. Perhaps it is because I read a lot of literary works where such an emotional component of character as optimism was crucial for the plot. Plenty of well-known protagonists have this personality trait, for example, Forrest Gump. According to Scott (2020), “optimism is a mental attitude characterized by hope and confidence in success and a positive future.” (para.1). It can be said that the smiles of the imaginary characters helped me shape my current mental attitude to life. Many writers have conveyed their own optimism to me to be a better person and inspire others to positively look at various life events. In this paper, the topic of optimism in literature and its impact on people’s outlook on life will be explored and discussed.

Optimism in Literature

It is no secret that literary works, like many other pieces of art, are capable of making an emotional impact on their audience. One can say it is the ability to influence the reader’s mood is that makes a story good and memorable. A writer can show the optimistic nature of a fictional character in a variety of ways. Creating a contrast between the protagonist’s personality and external reality is among the most emotionally efficient means (Zirngast, 2021). Therefore, there is usually a juxtaposition between the imagined world of a book and readers’ world around them.

At times when the world is ‘all over the place’ and causes severe stress for people, having the opportunity to immerse oneself into the fictional world and spend some time with the characters of the story. For example, during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic when the news media was reporting high numbers of infected individuals as well as spiking death rates, more and more people wanted to shelter themselves from the reality take a break from it. While escaping the world around us is not realistic long-term, having an opportunity to escape just for some time is a luxury that literature can offer.

There is an abundance of books that offer the safe escape into a fictional world and teach their readers that there are no unsolvable problems. The adventures through which the reader goes together with book characters often provide teachable lessons and underline the importance of remaining optimistic. As mentioned by Montgomery (2008) in Anne of Green Gables, “tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet” (p. 188). The passage illustrates that the characters of the book have made some mistakes and have reaped the consequences of them, but the next day is a new page with new opportunities.

Conclusion

This work explores and analyzes optimism in literary works and its influence on human mood and character. During the times of extreme stress caused by the world around us, the optimism that literature offers can provide an escape to readers that want to spend some time away from the news of family drama. Because of this, optimism in literature is highly valuable during such times and should never be overlooked as a source of wisdom and positivity.

References

Montgomery, L. (2008). Anne of Green Gables. Penguin Adult.

Scott, E. (2020). What is optimism?Verywell Mind.

Zirngast, L. (2021). A close reading of “The Buried Home”: The importance of optimism in a world seemingly full of pessimism. Off Campus: Seggau School of Thought, 7, 153-162. doi:10.25364/25.7:2021.18

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Optimism in Literature and Its Impact on Readers

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