Why Literature

            The general argument made by Mario Vargas Llosa in his work “Why Literature?” is that literature is no longer the backbone of society. More specifically, Llosa argues that literature is no longer a pass time for modern society and mainly read by women. He Writes, “It is something between sports, the movies, a game of bridge or chess; and it can be sacrificed…” (pg. 39). In this passage, Llosa is suggesting that literature is less important to modern people and that as people find more pass times it will continue to decrease. In conclusion, it is Llosa’s belief that literature and its importance in education and daily life is vanishing from society.

            In my view, Llosa is right because less and less students my age enjoy reading. For example, if a student likes what a book is about they will often say, “I will just wait to see the movie,” students are growing impatient and do not want to read a book because it takes too long. Because of this they will often read book summaries when an assignment is given to them or simply watch the movie. The problem with this is they do not get the full affect the book would have had on them if they were to have read it. Although Llosa might object that it is completely dying out I maintain that because of the e-reader it is becoming more popular among youths.  Therefore, I conclude that while literature is receding the e-reader is helping children reconnect to it.