The Subversive Power of Literature

While the speaker uses intentional irony to present books as a degenerative force, in reality these books are presented as gateways to new ways of thinking. This first becomes apparent when the speaker, imitating the librarians, states that within these pages are “heathens / and heretics” (Line 6-7). These two words are derogatory terms religious leaders once used to describe those whose opinions, actions, or beliefs went against the teachings of the church. In contemporary politics, these words can be loosely applied to people of minority sexuality, gender, religion, or ethnicity; in other words, anyone outside the privileged circle of power that is so often occupied in these politics. The implication is that by reading these books, one can develop a better understanding of those who, by circumstance or by choice, fall outside the established social norm.

This theme is further enhanced through...