Literature of Violence

Abstract

Literature mirrors society. From Anglo-Saxon to the present day we find Literature portrays the working of the human mind. Today, people are mostly forced into issues that challenge their individual existence. Philosophers, educationists, revolutionists, teachers and writers have ventured into theories like Formalism, Structuralism, Feminism, Deconstruction, Semiotics, New Historicism, Marxism, etc. Revolutions in the history of mankind took place with the inspiration of powerful writings. Today there is literary violence and chaos created around the world through the abuse of pen. This paper will bring out the literal meaning of violence. An in-depth study on Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses and Brown’s The Da Vinci Code will be done. It will discuss how literature can cause violence and unrest. It will also ascertain the thought provoking religious issues contained in these two novels. This chapter will examine the extend and limits of freedom of literature. It will also compare the historical account which the novelists have used. The saying “Pen is mightier than the sword” is appropriate. Literature has been a platform to echo the voices of injustice, violence, the oppressed and the minorities. Literature has power to heal and unite.

Keywords: Violence, media violence, unrest and disharmony, instigator, sacred, fundamentalism, fertility myths, fatwa, creative writing