Analysis Of John Fowles s The Magus - 1739 Words

A written piece of literature means nothings without the reader. If a story is never read or interpreted by someone, then it means nothing at all. Only when a piece of literature is read and given a response does it mean anything. The role of the reader is essential to the meaning of a text, for only in the reading experience does the literary work come alive. Furthermore, each reader can interpret a text differently and is affected by outside influences. These influences can effect major areas of the text and in some cases give it a different meaning. In John Fowles s The Magus, the reader s response to the authors story telling can differ by their social class, reaction to the main character, and gender. These key differences can give the story a whole new meaning and why the reader s response to literature is so important. In The Magus, the reader social class can change their outlook on the story. The Magus follows the main character Nicolas Urfe, a young middle class Englishman . Nicholas, being from the middle class, receives more than the lower class and less upper class social groups. He may had received a different education, experienced a different sort of living, and overall may have a different way of interacting with the world. For example, he was able to attend Oxford university in England which is a very costly and prestigious university to attend. For the reader that is of a lower class, Nicolas becomes a less relatable character. Throughout history