“It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature” – Henry James
This quote means translates into my own perception of being able to incorporate history into work which allows this simple, succinct sentence speaks volumes about the richness of subjects. Literature is more than just words written by someone at a given point. It’s descriptive of a time, cultural context, setting, ideals, values, and gender roles which creates history for characters. For example ” The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World ” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the story, Esteban who is the drowned man symbolizes an overwhelming experience for the villagers, Esteban unintentionally urges villagers to gather and brighten up their dull and regular daily living. The story gives the character a transformative effect of one dead man and an entire village. More obvious allusions include the notion that Esteban connotes the ancient god Quetzalcoatl, whose Aztec myth emphasizes peacefulness and self-sacrifice when he comes from the sea. It allows me to argue that indeed a great person has the power to change others, to inspire and make them want to be extraordinary, it is a story about the power of imagination.
