Fiction Reveals The Truth That Reality Obscures

The challenges of the real world, of our daily lives, often demand an escape. We find solace and
refuge in fiction - a beautiful world of intriguing myths, ballads, fantasy, and drama. More often
than not, we find the reprieve and the courage to face the day looming ahead in fiction - books,
movies, and TV shows.

No matter our age, we always yearn for perfectly woven stories that wield a captivating
paradigm shift, don’t we? What is it that we connect to in fiction? It could be anything, from the
emotions depicted through these stories to the courage we find to exhibit our real selves to a
society that is continuously scrutinizing and judging every movement, every breath we take. We
are inspired to put our best foot forward and portray our raw and authentic inner selves.

Don’t we often find ourselves engrossed in the colossal depths of the fictional world, where we
think of ourselves as the protagonist and make decisions along with them? Even the so-called
psychopaths in American Horror Story, have a depth of emotions and pain, that we sometimes
can’t help but relate to. Of course, murdering people in cold-blood is not the best choice, but we
can’t help but feel a sliver of empathy when we are exposed to the villain’s torturous past, right?

Thousands of crime and murder thrillers adorn bookshelves around the world, and at some
point, we all aspire to be self-righteous detectives. But does that mean, we take law into our
own hands, as we see fit? The intriguing murder mystery, ‘And Then There Were None’, by
Agatha Christie, delves into the realms of injustice, crimes that aren’t considered worth
imprisonment but are heinous nonetheless. A doctor who accidentally kills a patient during
surgery, abetment to suicide, - these crimes are representative of the loopholes in the justice
system, a gap that’s real in the world of bribes, moral complexes and corrupt officials.

A well-written story takes us through a magical journey and gives us a glimpse into social and
cultural barriers. It widens our perspective and accentuates our faculties to perceive empathy.
Fiction has a mesmerizing allure that has the power to change the way we think. When I read
the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, I was taken through a magical journey (literally), full of
the ups and downs of the wizarding world.

But behind the illusion of warmth, this piece of fiction opened my eyes to some grave issues that
were and still are plaguing humanity. The disgust that some wizards felt towards muggles or
‘non-magic people’ was representative of discrimination and prejudice due to family
backgrounds, caste, or heritage. The effect of Voldemort’s selfish propaganda, which was
rooted in childhood neglect, was seen across the whole wizarding community, and people were
coerced to take sides and witness battles that they never asked for. This grim scenario is no
different from discriminative propaganda that affects millions of people globally today.
Fiction also draws our attention to the way society often shuns or fails to completely accept the
specially-abled, or those suffering from deformities. The movie ‘Wonder’ brilliantly depicts the
struggles faced by the protagonist, a 10-year old boy, suffering from facial deformities. In the
face of all the bullying and the heart-wrenching taunts, Auggie wins our hearts through his
confidence and unwavering strength in the face of an obstacle. It forces us to retrospect our
callous behaviours, and empathize with the specially-challenged.

Who would have thought the pandemic we find ourselves in today, would have been predicted
years ago? Several books and movies such as Contagion, deal with the sense of doom and
never-ending uncertainty, that we are currently facing. In these works of fiction, the trying times
are always overcome, and this gives us a glimmer of hope, a ray of positivity, and inculcates the
assurance that we are never alone.

I believe that fiction sets the stage for exciting narratives and veils the author’s ideal message
under a compelling structure of action, climax, and ultimately a resolution. Most stories have a
happy ending, yet we also have to deal with bitter-sweet endings. Fictional narratives helped me
overcome and better my mental-health and hold a special place in my heart.