What is Literature? challenges anyone who writes as if literature could be extricated from history or society. But Sartre does more than indict. He offers a definitive statement about the phenomenology of reading, and he goes on to provide a dashing example of how to write a history of literature that takes ideology and institutions into account.
Jean Paul Sartre was a renowned philosopher, playwright, novelist, and literary critic. In his essay "What is Literature?" Sartre explores the meaning and purpose of literature.
Sartre argues that literature is a unique form of expression because it is not limited to the communication of ideas or information. Instead, literature is a form of art that seeks to capture the essence of human experience and convey it through the use of language. According to Sartre, literature is a means of creating a new reality, one that transcends the limitations of our everyday lives.
Sartre also argues that literature has a social and political dimension. He suggests that literature is a way of engaging with society and of challenging the status quo. By presenting alternative visions of the world, literature has the power to inspire change and promote social progress.
Sartre notes that literature is inherently subjective. Every reader brings their own experiences, beliefs, and values to a work of literature, and as a result, every interpretation is unique. This subjectivity is both a strength and a weakness of literature, as it allows for a diversity of perspectives but also makes it difficult to establish a single, objective meaning.
Sartre's essay "What is Literature?" emphasizes the importance of literature as a form of art that has the power to transcend our everyday experiences and engage with society.