THE NOVELIST: HIS VALUES AND DETACHMENT

According to traditional criteria, the author ideally creates a detachment between

himself and his work. It may be impossible to completely remove an author from his
novel, as we learned in the preceding lessons, but we cannot equate the author's work
with the author. A man of exemplary character and conduct can easily write a book of
little literary merit. On the other hand, we may not approve of an author's lifestyle,
worldview, or the choices that the author made during her life. This does not mean that
we should dismiss her work. In a sense, an artist's art stands on its own. *So basically,
this means that a “good person” can write a bad book, and vice versa.
Philosophers and theologians have the luxury of explicitly writing their deepest thoughts
outright in their works. Although you often find the "voice of the author" in works, it is
usually frowned upon to explicate such ideas within the framework of a story. "Show,
don't tell" may well be the most common advice given to writers. Anyone can say,
"Dishonesty leads to a person's downfall." The novelist must demonstrate it, in a
believable fashion according to the natural movements of life. It can also be argued that
it is not the author's purpose to determine the value of actions or personality traits. He
may present those actions or traits to his readers and demonstrate their consequences,
but many feel that he should keep as much objective distance as possible.

Instead of declaring an agenda outright, the novelist demonstrates his beliefs, values,
and principles in his construction of characters, choice of setting, action and
consequence, and language use. Some authors use their protagonist to expound their
own views with varying degrees of success. Normally, readers that agree with the
author's views have little problem with this, but it is rare to find two people in perfect
agreement on personal philosophies. Strong, unsubstantiated lecturing can potentially
turn off readers and obstruct what the author is ultimately trying to accomplish. Many
feel that a good author should gently guide the reader to where he wants them, rather
than simply lecturing. If the author is honest and true to life, his story will naturally reveal
that "dishonesty leads to a person's downfall" without ever mentioning it directly.

To accomplish these ends, the author must avoid personal narrowness, bigotry, and
fanaticism. That does not necessarily mean that the artist should not address difficult or
controversial subjects. If the subjects are dealt with sensitivity and with good taste,
truths can be derived from the consequence of the gravest actions. Outright advocacy
or condemnation can put an author in a precarious situation.

The novelist is a persuader. He is to persuade the reader not only of what is good in
culture but also what is sensible. The novelist is not to argue one side of a question.
The writer can write on one side of an issue or a problem, but he must enter the debate
with taste and sense.

In addressing a certain subject, an author is implicitly providing a criticism of whatever is

being addressed. His criticism must be presented with sense; that is, any life or theory
must be in the context of experience, character, and plot. What he is really asking in a
tolerant spirit is whether the philosophy or the theology under criticism is civilized or not,
or indeed, godly or not.

The novelist's purpose in using philosophy and theology is to show

that these disciplines work or do not work in his characters who
profess them. The novelist must be the critic of the philosophy or
theology of the characters, but not a constructor, or maker, of a
philosophy or theology.

Charles Dickens, then, did not write his own social philosophy, but
criticized the philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, utilitarianism, through
the characters in his novel Hard Times. Through his characters
Dickens demonstrated the limitations and unfortunate
consequences of a strict utilitarian philosophy.

Whether or not a novelist holds beliefs with complete conviction, he must be able to
understand beliefs and views that are not his own. His understanding of others must be
sympathetic.

Some people believe that the novelist should be involved in the problems of modern
civilization. In society, activities arise for every cause. The writer the novelist, is one who
meditates on and contemplates society, its values and beliefs. He keeps a detachment
from all the hustle and bustle of society, but that detachment should lead him to an
understanding of service to society in all its forms and the pain and price that such
service exacts. He does not walk out on the world or away from it, but must keep his
balance and objectivity.
The big question to ask about the novelist is not whether the person you see is good but
whether his writing is good and valuable; whether his beliefs are humane or not.