The true use of Shakespeare or of Cervantes, of Homer or of Dante, of Chaucer or of Rabelais, is to augment one's own growing inner self. Reading deeply in the Canon will not make one a better or a worse person, a more useful or more harmful citizen. The mind's dialogue with itself is not primarily a social reality. All that the Western Canon can bring one is the proper use of one's own solitude, that solitude whose final form is one's confrontation with one's own mortality. W
In his book "The Western Canon," Harold Bloom argues that the value of reading great literary works by authors like Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Homer lies in their ability to enhance one's inner self. He believes that engaging with these texts does not inherently change a person's moral character or societal contributions. Instead, the primary benefit of reading the Canon is the enrichment of one's own solitude and personal reflection.
Bloom emphasizes that this solitary engagement with literature leads to a deeper self-understanding, culminating in a confrontation with one’s own mortality. Ultimately, the Western Canon serves as a means for individuals to explore their consciousness and develop their identity away from social influences.
