A reader who quarrels with postulates, who dislikes Hamlet because he does not believe that there are ghosts or that people speak in pentameters, clearly has no business in literature. He cannot distinguish fiction from fact, and belongs in the same category as the people who send checks to radio stations for the relief of suffering heroines in soap operas.

Summary

This quote expresses the notion that a reader who refuses to suspend disbelief and questions the fundamental elements of literature, such as fictional concepts or poetic language, lacks the ability to understand and appreciate literary works. Such a person, who confuses fiction with reality and imposes their own narrow perspective, is likened to those who send money to help fictional characters in soap operas. The quote implies that literature requires a certain willingness to accept and engage with the imaginative aspects it presents.

Topics