When I think about literature, the first things that come to my mind are stories and poems that are talking about something but they “actually” mean something else! I don’t know exactly why my mind acts like this but I think that the experience of years at school that teachers used to read a poem and just started to tell the true meaning behind it, has resulted in this conclusion. But at first, let me take a look at what literature really is.
We can just imagine how languages have been founded at first. The man started to shout at others when for example there was a danger or to make sounds to call them. But eventually man needed more sounds and more specific sounds to express things. And we can just imagine that how these were the first steps to shape the first language. I mean there is no doubt that the purpose of a language is to act as a medium. But after years and years, people have changed the use to their advantage. Somehow someone in god knows what time decided to say something but meant something else! But why? Maybe he (or she) was afraid of someone and didn’t want others to understand what he was saying. I mean like in some form of cryptography he decided to hide the true meaning among the lines! Maybe he was just too shy to say this intention in a clear way and he gave the chance of understanding his meaning to the other people. Of course he must have been talking to someone! (Otherwise what a lonely mysterious person he could be to write something that only he could understand it!) But what is the beauty in this form of talking? I think when I want to say something but I can’t say it right away, I would be glad to use some sort of hiding and saying it in more obscure way so I can both enjoy the pleasure of not repressing myself and in the meanwhile not being afraid of consequences. It’s just in this way that I can insult you without being worried about your protest! I can criticize an oppressive government without fear of getting prosecuted.
Long story short, I want to say that as much as a culture is more filled with lying, hypocrisy and fear, you should see more people trying to hide their true intentions. And as much as a culture becomes more clear, explicit and open, you should see that more people are just saying what they want, what they need and what they are going to do without any kind of fear and horror in the most transparent way they can.
I think the fact that people are using idioms and sayings much less than the past, is that they prefer to talk and ask more clear and open.
::samic::