3 Books Which Will Entertain, Instruct and Transform You

Literature has been around since humans first began to write down the words in which they spoke. There are many different types of literary works, such as mysteries, romance or fantasy. Literature also falls into two different categories which are fiction and nonfiction literary works. No matter what kind of works and individual reads there are three things that literature present to the reader which are to entertains, instructs and transforms the reader. There are three different literary works that present these topics and they are Trifles by Susan Glaspell, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis and they display each of these three literary points.

Trifles by Susan Glaspell is a piece of literature that entertains the reader. When reading this short story I was very entertained. The unique thing about this story was that the reader knew who committed the murder, but it was interesting to see which one of the two groups of people would figure out who murdered man. Another way why Trifles is entertaining is becausethere is a slight comedic undertone in this story and one portrayal of this is “ Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. She worried about that when it turned to cold. She said that the fire'd go out and her jars would break. Well, can you beat the women? Held for murder and worrin' about her perseveres.” (Glaspell) This discussion is very comical in my opinion because it shows that although the sheriff and county attorney were looking for a motive for the murder their wives were upset because some of the Mrs. Wright's perseveres were ruined. This story is over entertaining because it displays an interesting story with some comic relief.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a piece of literature that instructs the reader. The main character Gregor wakes up to find that he has been transformed into a bug. Although this is a horrible state to be placed in the man character for in a way did not mind this state at first. One example of this is that “he wanted to get up in peace and unmolested, get dressed and, especially, have breakfast, and only afterwords give the matter further thought...” (Kafka, 13). This thought in Gregor’s mind displays that his family keeps wanting to get his attention and he also has to get to work and the only things that Gregor wants to do is to get dressed and eat some breakfast. The way in which this short story instructs the reader is that it makes the reader think about if we really want something to happen to us, such as in this case to be complete alone; what are the consequences of our wishes and desires. Be careful what you wish for or it may really happen is a good quote for this story and the lesson that it instructs.

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis is a piece of literature that transforms the reader. This novella is the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. In this book the Narnia in which has been presented throughout the first six books has been destroyed, but at the end the “real” Narnia appeared. The one part in the book that transformed me as a reader is “all of their life in this world and their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: not at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” (Lewis, 210-211) These few sentences by C.S. Lewis show that the life that we live on earth is just the cover and title page in comparison to our life in Heaven and on the New Earth where we will live in the presence of God for forever, in which our story goes on forever.

In conclusion, these three short stories Trifles, The Metamorphosis and The Last Battle entertain, instruct and transform the reader. As long as a novel can do at least one of these three things, the novel is considered great in my opinion. There are some books that can do all three in which as a reader I have to find out what is going to happen next, but at this same time I am still learning something and the book is also transforming me. God, who is the creator of all things in the creator of literature and I am forever grateful for this gift that He has given humanity.

Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Kaika, Franz. The Metamorphosis and Other Stories. 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501: Dover Publications, 1996. Print.

Lewis, C. S., and Pauline Baynes. The Last Battle. New York: Scholastic, 1995. Print. The Chronicles of Narnia.