Why The Book Perils By Toni Morrison
In “BURN THIS BOOK - “peril” ” Toni Morrison contends that the art or work of a writer should be protected from the constant censorship and other forms of similar prosecution that they must face as a part of their job. This prosecution is believed by the author to be the writers peril. The regimes ran by dictators and authoritarians alike would never relinquish their control over the media and use methods that may range from censorship to absolute slaughter and violence in the process of silencing the writers. Writers, aware of this do so at their own risk and those with strict control over the media never allow such unmonitored writing to exist that would disturb the system in place. This peril that plagues writers also remains to have an effect and become a corresponding peril to the innocent civilians of society. When writers are to be censored for their work our peril is the existence that is the result of that which is dismal and bleak due to such a deprivation of something
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so important as art. This is why, in the authors opinion, it is paramount that the writers and their work are to be protected to avoid something like that. The reason behind the assault on a writer and their work is the idea that for the authoritarians and others of insidious nature to go against the nature of the truth that a writer is capable of producing they can then avoid the trouble that the truth could cause for them. The truth creates issues for those whose very actions would reduce their popularity in the eyes of society if made public, therefore the truth is suppressed into what is approved as safe for all. Toni believes that writers portray a response to chaos known as “stillness” which allows them to turn chaos into meaning, which is what makes them a key asset worth protecting by fellow writers no less. To save literature is to save ourselves because with the coming age of this censorship, which proven by Toni has been apparent many times throughout history as nearly far back as literature itself, leads to a very harsh age of literature. The author believes the art of writing to be a necessity to all with its values and abilities to express meaning in ways other things cannot. I do agree with the thoughts of Toni Morrison and his views on the art of literature. Throughout history literature and artwork as an entity have been suppressed form their original forms and reduced to what was believed safe for the public. Methods of censorship have even escalated to points of violence, extreme persecutions, and even death with examples of Socrates in the BC era and Galileo in the 17th century. These examples can still be listed even today in the present century of countless times where unwarranted heinous acts against writers are made simply because the truth that they write about remains to seem “unorthodox” to those who control the media. To many that censor writers in the media, the truth can seem as a demoralizing thing and a something destructive towards a “safe” society. As long as authoritarians have total control over the media, the truth will continue to be censored from the public. I agree with Toni Morrison's other argument that the meaning a writer can portray in the face of chaos or any other adversity is very unique and exclusive to the artwork of a writer alone. It is this reason that I also agree in that writers should be protected in order to preserve this craft and have such protection initiated by other writers. It is the unique skill a writer has that makes it clear to me that Toni is correct when he addresses a writers work as a necessity to mankind considering the impact it can produce. Its also this impact that a writer's work can have on a person that makes literature itself so significant and of high value to most. Literature is the true art of a writer meant to depict meaning and convey what is necessary exclusive to the writer and their choice of subject.
Literature is read by the masses as a way to satisfy the human nature for stories as their minds grow and gain more curiosity. Whether it be to escape into the realm that a books meaning can place someones mind in or to find interest in the relation a book can find and link, literature is read to satisfy a yearning of knowledge that may or may not be dormant to some. Reading literature provides the reader, whether they agree with it or not, a chance to delve into the mind of a writer and gain their outlook as well as use the opportunity literature can provide to allow introspection. Literature has the ability to help a reader evaluate aspects of someones life and even provide progression under certain circumstances. Some literature can remain powerful enough in its context and affect enough readers to eventually be dubbed a
“Classic”. A classic is a piece of literature that may very in length but holds enough meaning while impacting enough to retain a value within readers to remain relevant throughout time. Its this timeless value that makes those willing to dub a piece of literature as classic acknowledge that literature as a highly recommended read, which is why many classics assume a role as a part of a high school English class curriculum. A classic is considered by an English instructor to be somewhat necessary in order to shape the minds of learners towards a better understanding of literature. It are things such as classic that help define an era or culture depending on the context of its origin. Literature is either a cultures most valuable, or one of a cultures most valuable aspects among the arts. Art in itself is defining to everything and any art unique to a culture is especially defining. Literature in its own way like all other arts adds its own special meaning or interpretation and literature defines a cultures own mindset or perspective. The written words within a cultures literature offers its own mindset and their culture can be reflected within it and help the understanding of said culture thus making its value as an art form very important towards a culture. Literature, with its ability to construct meanings from nearly anything, provide its own perspective on a topic, use that perspective to affect views, spur knowledge, and change prior knowledge entirety, is a necessity in culture and as a part of human kind. With this high value we as a society have placed on it, it is only right for this art form to be protected for everyone's sake.
so important as art. This is why, in the authors opinion, it is paramount that the writers and their work are to be protected to avoid something like that. The reason behind the assault on a writer and their work is the idea that for the authoritarians and others of insidious nature to go against the nature of the truth that a writer is capable of producing they can then avoid the trouble that the truth could cause for them. The truth creates issues for those whose very actions would reduce their popularity in the eyes of society if made public, therefore the truth is suppressed into what is approved as safe for all. Toni believes that writers portray a response to chaos known as “stillness” which allows them to turn chaos into meaning, which is what makes them a key asset worth protecting by fellow writers no less. To save literature is to save ourselves because with the coming age of this censorship, which proven by Toni has been apparent many times throughout history as nearly far back as literature itself, leads to a very harsh age of literature. The author believes the art of writing to be a necessity to all with its values and abilities to express meaning in ways other things cannot. I do agree with the thoughts of Toni Morrison and his views on the art of literature. Throughout history literature and artwork as an entity have been suppressed form their original forms and reduced to what was believed safe for the public. Methods of censorship have even escalated to points of violence, extreme persecutions, and even death with examples of Socrates in the BC era and Galileo in the 17th century. These examples can still be listed even today in the present century of countless times where unwarranted heinous acts against writers are made simply because the truth that they write about remains to seem “unorthodox” to those who control the media. To many that censor writers in the media, the truth can seem as a demoralizing thing and a something destructive towards a “safe” society. As long as authoritarians have total control over the media, the truth will continue to be censored from the public. I agree with Toni Morrison's other argument that the meaning a writer can portray in the face of chaos or any other adversity is very unique and exclusive to the artwork of a writer alone. It is this reason that I also agree in that writers should be protected in order to preserve this craft and have such protection initiated by other writers. It is the unique skill a writer has that makes it clear to me that Toni is correct when he addresses a writers work as a necessity to mankind considering the impact it can produce. Its also this impact that a writer's work can have on a person that makes literature itself so significant and of high value to most. Literature is the true art of a writer meant to depict meaning and convey what is necessary exclusive to the writer and their choice of subject.
Literature is read by the masses as a way to satisfy the human nature for stories as their minds grow and gain more curiosity. Whether it be to escape into the realm that a books meaning can place someones mind in or to find interest in the relation a book can find and link, literature is read to satisfy a yearning of knowledge that may or may not be dormant to some. Reading literature provides the reader, whether they agree with it or not, a chance to delve into the mind of a writer and gain their outlook as well as use the opportunity literature can provide to allow introspection. Literature has the ability to help a reader evaluate aspects of someones life and even provide progression under certain circumstances. Some literature can remain powerful enough in its context and affect enough readers to eventually be dubbed a
“Classic”. A classic is a piece of literature that may very in length but holds enough meaning while impacting enough to retain a value within readers to remain relevant throughout time. Its this timeless value that makes those willing to dub a piece of literature as classic acknowledge that literature as a highly recommended read, which is why many classics assume a role as a part of a high school English class curriculum. A classic is considered by an English instructor to be somewhat necessary in order to shape the minds of learners towards a better understanding of literature. It are things such as classic that help define an era or culture depending on the context of its origin. Literature is either a cultures most valuable, or one of a cultures most valuable aspects among the arts. Art in itself is defining to everything and any art unique to a culture is especially defining. Literature in its own way like all other arts adds its own special meaning or interpretation and literature defines a cultures own mindset or perspective. The written words within a cultures literature offers its own mindset and their culture can be reflected within it and help the understanding of said culture thus making its value as an art form very important towards a culture. Literature, with its ability to construct meanings from nearly anything, provide its own perspective on a topic, use that perspective to affect views, spur knowledge, and change prior knowledge entirety, is a necessity in culture and as a part of human kind. With this high value we as a society have placed on it, it is only right for this art form to be protected for everyone's sake.