Nowadays we spend a lot of time immersed in literary works, films, television programs and other forms of fiction. Some see this in a positive light, arguing that fictional stories cultivate our mental and moral development. Others, however, have argued that the narrative is mentally and ethically obstructive. Posing the age-old question: does fiction build the morality of individuals and societies, or does it destroy it? ducts and the back of the neck and to make a person feel something about the characters they are going through and to experience the moral paradoxes and difficulties of being human. " -Tim O'BrienIt is undeniable that fiction has had the power to influence society in the past. History says so, because if you went back far enough, you could find evidence of many book burnings that occurred. Consider the book burnings that occurred below Hitler's reign. These books, commonly written by Jews, were generally considered pacifist or anti-war and concerned with new educational methods and intellectual opinions. Such destruction would never have taken place if the fictional literary works had not been seen as dissident material which undermined the ideologies of the National Socialist administration. Because otherwise it would have frightened, probably the most powerful and at the same time ruthless leader our world has ever seen? “So now you understand why books are hated and feared? They show their pores in the face of life” (Faber from Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury...... middle of paper......burn.htm [ Accessed: March 21, 2014].Literary Review of Canada. 2011 Why fiction is good for you |. Canadian Literary Review [online] Available at: http://reviewcanada.ca/magazine/2011/07/why-fiction-is-good-for-you/ [Accessed: March 9. 2014].Mcknight, S. 2014. Fiction: Is it good for you? [online] Available at: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2012/04/29/fiction-is-it-. good for you/ [Accessed: April 13, 2014].Chiaet, J. (2014 Novel Finding: Reading Literary Fiction Improves Empathy [online] Scientificamerican.com). /article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empathy/ [Accessed May 5, 2014].Pacific Standard, (2013: Reading Fiction Makes People Comfortable with Ambiguity) Available at: http://www.psmag.com/blogs/news-blog/reading-literature-opens-minds-60021/ [Accessed 5 May. 2014].