LitFest in the Dena 2025
Books That Teach Us About Character
What can books teach us about character? The people in literary works face moral dilemmas—choosing between personal gain and doing the right thing, whatever the consequences. Fictional heroes often explore the boundaries of character, asking us which traits we deem noble. The same choices and internal struggles appear in nonfiction works such as biographies or histories, deepened by the impact of character on the real world. Looking at character in books helps us stay true to our values, even in the most threatening of circumstances. By immersing ourselves in the stories of others—be they true or imagined—we develop a stronger moral compass and a deeper understanding of how to live with character.
“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel... is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.”
— Ursula K. LeGuin
