Claire Stevens
Jul 30, 2017 · 1 min read

The comparison of the modern novel to the crazed, nonsensical babblings of the left is spot-on.

One of the things that bothers me about the modern novel is the loss — the perversion, really — of the hero narrative.

Classic literature is full of protagonists who are trying to transcend the baser aspects of themselves (the fatal flaw), trying to overcome obstacles and triumph. Modern literature is full of “heroes” whose biggest obstacle is themselves but instead of trying to conquer their weaknesses, they embrace them and that is considered heroic and a victory.

The modern novel is all about embracing and celebrating one’s dysfunction or fatal flaw. Nothing to overcome here except self-criticism, the biggest boogeyman of all for a modern protagonist.

The thematic arc of classic literature and the hero’s quest implies that there are standards and that success comes from transcending our flaws and becoming better people. This is at odds with the Leftist/Liberal narrative that demands that there are no standards other than what we define and that there is nothing to overcome except our lack of acceptance of who we are. Because of the classic novel’s implication that there are standards that are defined outside of one’s self, it is necessarily viewed as oppressive and must be eliminated.

I think I’ll pass on the “dysfunction as virtue” stories that are currently being cranked out, ad infinitum.

    Claire Stevens

    Written by

    Occasional contributor at www.amerika.org.

    Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
    Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
    Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade