Adherence Quote by Jane Smiley
“The novel as a form is usually seen to be moral if its readers consider freedom, individuality, democracy, privacy, social connection, tolerance and hope to be morally good, but it is not considered moral if the highest values of a society are adherence to rules and traditional mores, the maintenance of hierarchical relationships, and absolute ideas of right and wrong. Any society based on the latter will find novels inherently immoral and subversive.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Novel as Moral Discourse, scholarly essay, 1990s
The moral value of a novel depends on the cultural values it reflects; societies valuing freedom see novels as moral, while societies emphasizing hierarchy view them as subversive.
In simple terms: Novels are judged moral or immoral based on societal values.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how cultural context shapes literary judgment.
Themes
literature
morality
culture
freedom
hierarchy
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching literature
- book clubs
- political analysis
- media criticism
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social constructivism
censorship
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your own values affect your reading of novels?
- Can a novel be both moral and subversive?
A Different Perspective
Not all readers share the same moral framework, so interpretations can clash.
