Comments on: Literature and Testimony http://bookland.blankslate.net/2006/02/17/literature-and-testimony/ "I cannot live without books." —Thomas Jefferson Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:46:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Ben http://bookland.blankslate.net/2006/02/17/literature-and-testimony/#comment-10 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:56:30 +0000 http://bookland.blankslate.net/2006/02/17/literature-and-testimony/#comment-10 I suppose one standard by which a work could be judged is whether the moral issue is glorified or condemned, but that's a hard thing to tell sometimes. In Dostoevsky, it's clear that Raskolnikov's murder was wrong, and if my memory serves me correctly the rest of the book is about his path toward redemption. The James Bond books and movies, on the other hand, would seem to be more gratuitous. Having said that, perhaps the difference is between a work containing a depiction of evil and it <i>being</i> evil. I certainly don't think that depicting evil is wrong; without it, good would have no meaning. With Chaucer it seems like the naughty jokes are approved and "normal," but it's been a long time since I read him and my memory could be faulty. I'm still not satisfied -- how can the two be reconciled? (Or is there even any reconciliation necessary?) I suppose one standard by which a work could be judged is whether the moral issue is glorified or condemned, but that’s a hard thing to tell sometimes. In Dostoevsky, it’s clear that Raskolnikov’s murder was wrong, and if my memory serves me correctly the rest of the book is about his path toward redemption. The James Bond books and movies, on the other hand, would seem to be more gratuitous.

Having said that, perhaps the difference is between a work containing a depiction of evil and it being evil. I certainly don’t think that depicting evil is wrong; without it, good would have no meaning. With Chaucer it seems like the naughty jokes are approved and “normal,” but it’s been a long time since I read him and my memory could be faulty.

I’m still not satisfied — how can the two be reconciled? (Or is there even any reconciliation necessary?)

]]> by: Anna http://bookland.blankslate.net/2006/02/17/literature-and-testimony/#comment-9 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:28:10 +0000 http://bookland.blankslate.net/2006/02/17/literature-and-testimony/#comment-9 here's an interesting question: is it a moral fault for Chaucer to include naughty jokes in his texts? And what of literature that explores the darker side of human character other than sexual license? I'm thinking particularly of Dostoevsky, but you could even include the exploration/representation of evil in Lord of the Rings. here’s an interesting question: is it a moral fault for Chaucer to include naughty jokes in his texts? And what of literature that explores the darker side of human character other than sexual license? I’m thinking particularly of Dostoevsky, but you could even include the exploration/representation of evil in Lord of the Rings.

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