What a lost person needs is a map of the territory, with his own position marked on it so he can see where he is in relation to everything else. Literature is not only a mirror; it is also a map, a geography of the mind. Our literature is one such map, if we can learn to read it as our literature, as the product of who and where we have been. We need such a map desperately, we need to know about here, because here is where we live. For the members of a country or a culture, shared knowledge of their place, their here, is not a luxury but a necessity. Without that knowledge we will not survive.
Margaret Atwood emphasizes the importance of literature as a guiding tool for individuals who feel lost, comparing it to a map that helps them locate themselves within a broader context. She asserts that literature serves not only as a reflection of reality but also as a framework that enables readers to understand their place in the world. This understanding is essential for navigating life and for personal development.
Atwood argues that...
