Fiction and Truth

[megustaleer]

"Even if wholly fictitious a good story is always true"; from Adela Cathcart, by George MacDonald

Any thoughts on this statement?

[Flingo]

Sounds like an exam question, Meg!! *feel like the clock is ticking*

Personally, I feel that every story must have some basis in truth anyway. It may be a straight copy of a story, or it may have elements of many stories.

If a novel is really good - gripping plot, well written, believable characters - then surely it comes to life as you read it? Regardless of whether this life is real or imagined at that moment in time the story is true to you!

So yes, I agree - a good fiction is always true!!!

[Ade]

I think it depends on our definition of 'true'. In our postmodern world, it's accepted that even history books only give different versions and readings of events rather than 'truth' as such. How do we know when we've reached the 'true' version of something when witness statements show time and time again that there is never a single viewpoint? I think MacDonald was looking for a spiritual, mythic truth that was ultimately more true for him than merely a retelling of events - and we can accept that myths have a much more tenuous basis in 'fact' than history yet perhaps access deeper 'truths'?

[David]

I think this ultimately works in terms of human truth, which is perhaps only tangential to Ade's observations on mythic/spiritual truth. Fiction is contrived, but in order to be credible has to have firm roots in the authenticity of human experience. 'Good' fiction is surely that which credibly deals with the underlying and unchanging 'truths' of human nature, that which we may not always share in its entirety but which strikes a resonant chord with our implicit understanding of our fellows. We might not all be murderers, but if the construction of a murderous psychology in a tale is performed skilfully then we understand its part in the spectrum of humanity. Do we reach the end of Macbeth with unalloyed hatred of the protagonist and smug satisfaction at his demise, or are we a little unsettled by the manner in which we empathise with some aspects of his journey?

Of course, Ade's point applies to this as well: all truth is relative. Even religious truth, which supposedly cuts through the clouds of imperfect human thought, is evidently highly subjective in a world of interpretation. Scientific truth too: absolute theories remain true only until the next breakthrough in thinking and perception.

So, even the best story can never be true in any absolute sense, but it can explore those realms in which we feel great and lasting truths about human nature exist, and that is why the greatest stories endure.

[Three Mangos]

I have a friend who generally reads non-fiction: history, biography, travel writing etc. He feels that fiction or stories are mere make-believe and don't reveal any 'truths' to us that we require. He doesn't dislike fiction, but feels his time is better spend reading non-fiction.

I think he is fundamentally mistaken and misses a serious point.

Human societies and cultures have always created myths, which are stories about themselves. It is though stories that we access a deeper 'truth' about the human condition and experience.

I agree with Ade that in our postmodern world it is difficult to make final 'truth' statements. Late 20 Century French philosophy drew our attention to the importance of language in the creation of the world; the real world doesn't exist the language we use. I think the novel is a great art form because it combines our need for stories with language

As a final point, just as some stories are better than other, I think some stories arguably are more truthful than others.

[Hazel]

I have a friend who generally reads non-fiction: history, biography, travel writing etc. He feels that fiction or stories are mere make-believe and don't reveal any 'truths' to us that we require. He doesn't dislike fiction, but feels his time is better spend reading non-fiction.



My husband is the same and thinks reading fiction is a waste of time. I think reading fiction does tell us truths about ourselves as it gives writers and thinkers an opportunity to test 'truths' outside of reality without any barriers, and if it takes one reader to identify with that then truth is created. Take Charlotte Perkins Gilman's fictional exploration of post natal depression in The Yellow Wallpaper - without the fiction genre this would not been possible in that period, and it changed alot of people's lives when they recognised themselves. It also changed medical thinking. So within fiction a truth was brought to light.

Also lets not forget that far from being pointless fiction provides an escape, a way of thinking outside of our own limited social constructs, and access to truths that we might not come across in our life.