The function of literature, through all its mutations, has been to make us aware of the particularity of selves, and the high authority of the self in its quarrel with its society and its culture. Literature is in that sense subversive.

Summary

This quote suggests that literature has always served the purpose of highlighting the uniqueness of individuals and emphasizing the significance of self-expression in defiance of societal and cultural norms. It implies that literature is a means of challenging established ideologies. By presenting diverse perspectives and questioning the status quo, literature acts as a form of subversion. Through its various forms, literature aims to bring attention to the power and importance of the individual and their contentious relationship with the larger society and culture.

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