Committed Literature and Its Impact on Culture from the Perspective of Sartre and Camus

Abstract

One of the significant and controversial topics in the field of literature is the issue of committed literature and its role in the elevation of a society’s culture. In this regard, three prevailing perspectives can be identified: (1) The writer is obligated and committed to creating a work that conveys sublime and constructive meanings; (2) The writer is in no way obliged to serve society; (3) The writer personally chooses and may at times engage in committed literature and at other times produce literature with the aim of entertaining the public. According to Sartre and Camus, writers are duty-bound to strive for the reform of their societies. They both believed in the value of committed literature and held that such literature is constructive and capable of improving the human condition, thereby becoming a cultural force. A committed writer is a free individual. Moreover, freedom originates from a society’s culture. Therefore, freedom is a disposition that must be infused into a society through its culture. The present article seeks to examine the impact of committed literature on the culture of a society.