<p>Can books and stories about characters and events that are not real teach us anything useful? (yes it's a Nov 06 prompt)</p>
<p>I'd greatly appreciate any advice</p>
<p>The sharing of knowledge, i.e. teaching, is not solely derived from real life examples or "hard and fast facts". Fictional literature also has the ability to share knowledge especially when the author illustrates life through fictional characters. Whether the theme is greed,knowledge or love, we can always learn something.</p>
<p>Numerous works of literature share with readers valuable experiences. Particularly the novel Gabriella Cinnamon and Clove by Jorge Amado. He depicts Gabriella as and innocuous and genuine individual, who enjoys playing with orphans and participating in the town's cultural events. However when she joins Mr. Nacib in holy matrimony, she is forced to give up her previous lifestyle for one of the elitists'. Though Gabriella endures the boring lectures, she does not stand for it because she is forced into the elitists' lifestyle. Her decision is one that can be observed in many of the lives people who have read the novel. Therefore Amado imparts knowledge about making decisions and not allowing others to do so for you.</p>
<p>Similarly the novella The Pearl by John Steinbeck illustrates events that can teach the reader. When Kino, the novella's protagonist, gains a beautiful pearl, greed engulfs him. He becomes very protective of his possessions and believes that everyone is out to get him. He even abuses his own wife because she tries to get the evil greed out of him by disposing the pearl. Kino eventually has to loose his son in order to recognize his greedy ways. Like Amado, Steinbecks dramatically depicts the effects that greed and material possessions can have on an individual. He tries to demonstrate that "things" can destroy the very soul of an individual or even worse their family.</p>
<p>Therefore it is indubitable that fictitious stories can aid in teaching others. We should not believe that only encyclopedias posses knowledge but fictional work as well. As long as these works depict ostensible experiences people can learn.</p>