I think the greatness of literature is a function of the language available to the writer. A comparitive study in construction of meaning from things such as words. Part 1 of ????
Consider, first, that language is a tool to convey meaning and literature is a tool to attempt to fix that meaning in such a way that meaning is not lost.
Of course, this leads to all kinds of speculation, the best of which is the question: can meaning be fixed? Language is an imperfect tool, like using a rake as a shovel. Sometimes it will do the job, but most times it will just leave a bigger mess than you started with.
And so, for your consideration, I submit a study in construction and reconstrunction of meaning:
"Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stay’d for. There; my blessing with thee! And these few precepts in thy memory See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express’d in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most select and generous chief in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!"
OR
"Yo, Laertes, get on the boat already, no cap! The wind’s perfect and they’re waiting for you fr fr. Here’s my blessing, good luck out there. Just remember this stuff, keep it in your head.
Don’t say every thought you have, and definitely don’t act on any wild impulses. Be friendly and chill, but don’t be basic or try too hard. Hold down your real ones—the friends you actually trust—lock them in like they’re family. But don’t waste your time trying to impress every random new person you meet, that’s corny.
Try to stay out of drama, but if you get dragged into a fight, make sure they remember not to mess with you. Listen to everyone, but don’t be giving your opinion to the whole world. Hear what people say about you, but keep your own judgment to yourself.
Spend on clothes what you can afford, go for expensive-looking but not flashy, keep it clean and not gaudy because your fit really does say a lot about you, especially in France. And don’t lend money to anyone, and don’t borrow either—loaning cash usually loses you the money and the friend, and borrowing just makes you look bad with your finances.
But the biggest thing, the main thing: stay true to yourself. Like, if you’re really real with who you are, it’s impossible to be fake with anyone else. That’s just how it is.
Alright, peace! Hope all this sticks with you."