The novel lends itself to a fragmented society because it allows the author to voice many opinions and ideas within a single work. Many genres, such as traditional poetry and journal-type prose, only permit the expression of one voice. Novels present the polar opposite of this limitation. In novels, authors have the freedom to present multiple characters and themes. Each character represents a distinct individual, and can be identified with a fraction of society. Eventually, novels that seem to lack any unifying elements will be written. For a fragmented society,' the diversity of the novel is ideal. Rather than forcing a single face onto a varied and shifting culture, a myriad of reflections appear in the novel's looking glass. Often what the reader sees depends on what they present (critics often force their own agendas and interpretations onto texts). This transitory, almost unsubstantial nature embodies a divided and evolving culture.
