One thing I struggle with when reading is wondering if the author/writer is using a character to espouse their worldviews or personal opinions about life.
One example is Picture of Dorian Gray. Where the characters praise and advocate for a hedonistic life and state that beauty and youth are the only worthwhile things in life. I wonder if Wilde believed or agreed with any part of that.
Obviously Dorian’s life ends in turmoil and ruin chasing beauty and youth. So Wilde clearly shows the consequences of living with that ideal.
But still I wonder if Wilde thinks theres any truth to what Lord Henry says and advocates. Living freely, seizing the day, chasing pleasure.
by zampano32
3 Comments
Critical analysis.
Research. Orson Scott card wrote the Ender saga. There’s a whole bunch about acceptance and not judging differences but ohhh boy is his irl views hypocritical
You ultimately don’t. You can do your best to read between the lines, look into context about the work, or research the author specifically. But this won’t get you terribly far if you read outside of high profile authors that don’t have much info out there.