Why are literary analyses often subjective?

Literary analyses are often subjective because individual interpretations vary based on personal experiences, beliefs, and perspectives. Each reader brings their unique background, emotions, and understanding to a piece of literature, which influences how they perceive themes, characters, and the overall message. This diversity of thought means that two people reading the same text may draw completely different conclusions or appreciate different aspects of the work, making literary analysis a rich field where many interpretations coexist. This variability is a hallmark of literature, lending it depth and relevance across different audiences and contexts.

In contrast, literature often does not have a single interpretation, which contradicts the notion that analyses can be objective. Additionally, while some aspects of analysis can be informed by authorial intent, relying solely on that would limit the rich layers of meaning available through personal engagement with the text. Finally, subjectivity inherently plays a role in how we interpret literature, so the assertion that subjective factors have no effect is not accurate.