Meaning of a story

[Kyriakos]

This is a general question, about the meaning of any story you read.
My own view is that the reader rebuilds and reforms the story in his/her own mind, so inevitably it is not the exact meaning of the story (even in clear didactic pieces) that gets communicated. Instead i think it is the thought and sentence patterns and structures which make an impression.

I have observed this with my own work as well, since from time to time a reader of it will make a comment i was at the same time unaware of, and unconsciously certain of its validity.

What is your own reflection on the question of seeking a meaning to a story? Should there be such an end at all? And if there should, do you value more your conscious impression in regards to the meaning, or your emotions towards the story as a whole?

[Dark Muse]

I think that there are at least (if not many more) two different meanings to a story. Certainly the author had thier own particular meaning in mind when they wrote the stroy, and something imporant they wanted to convey to the reader, and I think that is certainly worth seeking to understand while reading. Though in addition to the authors concious/intended meaning, they may also imply a subconscious meaning beyond thier own awareness.

But I also think that any artist should be receptive to the fact that thier audience is going to give the work thier own personal meaning and interpretation. While reading the reader will seek out ways to personalize the story, and relate to it and may recognize things within which reflect thier own experiences, feelings, thoughts. And I do not think that a readers own personal reactions and interpretations should be devalued. They are equally imporant as the meaning which may have been originally implied within the story.

As I am presently reading 1Q94 right now, I cannot help but to think of the idea of "Perceiver" and "Receiver" when contemplating this question. I think that a reader of a story may take on both these roles. They receive the informaiton which the author is giving to them, but they may also perceive meanings within the story that may be complete sepereate from the author.

[Kyriakos]

Hi Dark Muse :)

I too think that the actual meaning of the story goes beyond what was conscious in its creator's mind. Not only because without a doubt most of it would have been unconscious to him/her as well, the reader is always a new force that reacts to the story, and with progress of the reader new meaning can be dug out. Perhaps below the depth that ordinary examination leads, an abyss is waiting to be seen, like the one shortly opening in the short story The Transition of Juan Romero :)

[JBI]

If you want to know what something means, first ask, "how does it mean," then follow your gut instinct.

I think because of our exposure to heightened tones in the world, the actual meaning of the story has been kind of dulled. Fiction no longer emotionally effects people the way I suspect it did 100 years ago. I think now meaning of the complete work is less important, because moralizing is so out of fashion and the pathetic moves that dominate our senses have been dimmed.

Meaning is not so important as I would say "feeling". They sound similar, but I think the mood of a novel is far more resonant than its "message."

[cafolini]

This is a general question, about the meaning of any story you read.
My own view is that the reader rebuilds and reforms the story in his/her own mind, so inevitably it is not the exact meaning of the story (even in clear didactic pieces) that gets communicated. Instead i think it is the thought and sentence patterns and structures which make an impression.

I have observed this with my own work as well, since from time to time a reader of it will make a comment i was at the same time unaware of, and unconsciously certain of its validity.

What is your own reflection on the question of seeking a meaning to a story? Should there be such an end at all? And if there should, do you value more your conscious impression in regards to the meaning, or your emotions towards the story as a whole?

Regardless of how many truths may be found in what you say, with which I can't but agree wholeheartedly, meaning is what we all seek and that will always be so. However, I should emphasize one of your points and deempahasize others. Even didactic pieces? Perhaps it should be even more in that realm. And when you attribute structure as a guide, I still don't see it as powerful as the search for meaning, nor can I separate emotions from the rest. Anything is emotive because emotions cannot be overcome. They are as intrinsic as motivation.
So, meaning is what we all seek, regardless of how foolish we might be in taking our conclusions as to the message implied by the writers. A man who takes his own story as The Truth is most truthfully a liar and a hipocryte.
Civilization advances with bits of meaning that get established through tests that require a lot of time. What we propose today contains truths that must in time be established with the disregarding of all the lies we propose today and entangle anything we might elaborate.