Exploring the Emotional and Ethical Experiences of Readers in Classical Literature: A Phenomenological Study Using IPA

Abstract

Literature plays a significant role in shaping moral understanding, with readers often engaging emotionally and intellectually with the ethical dilemmas faced by characters. However, there is limited research on how readers subjectively experience and reflect on these moral conflicts. The gap in current literature lies in understanding the emotional and personal dimensions of readers’ engagement with moral dilemmas in literature, particularly within the framework of phenomenology. This study advances the understanding of emotional engagement with moral dilemmas in classical literature by offering new insights into how readers internalize and reflect on these ethical conflicts.  Here, we show how a phenomenological approach, specifically Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), can provide insights into how readers internalize and reflect on moral decisions in literature. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, revealing that readers not only empathize with the characters’ choices but also engage in deep self-reflection about their own values. Participants expressed strong emotional connections to the ethical dilemmas, which led them to critically examine their moral beliefs. The findings suggest that literature functions as a powerful tool for ethical introspection, offering readers a platform to explore and challenge their own ethical frameworks. These results deepen our understanding of the role literature plays in moral development and provide a foundation for future research on the emotional engagement with literature across different genres and cultural contexts.