"For years, I had heard about the lack of interest in literature in the U.S. and I had complained about it. I failed to understand how people could fail to be moved by art"

Rita Dove's quote reflects a poignant observation about American society's relationship with literature. At its core, the statement speaks with the lament of a literary lover who has a hard time to comprehend the reducing interest in an art form that has actually been both a source of individual and collective knowledge and solace throughout history.

Dove begins by acknowledging a continuous discourse surrounding the decline in enthusiasm for literature within the United States-- an issue that has actually been noted by scholars, educators, and writers alike. By mentioning, "For years, I had become aware of the absence of interest in literature", Dove locates herself both as a witness and a participant in the cultural conversation around this concerning trend. This opening acknowledges a more comprehensive societal problem, showing that this is not merely an individual gripe however an acknowledged cultural shift.

Through the next clause, "and I had actually grumbled about it", Dove exposes her prior engagement and aggravation with the issue. The use of the word "grumbled" suggests an active involvement and resistance against this trend, highlighting her passionate support for literature's importance and significance. It implies a desire to see modification and an objection to merely accept the status quo.

The profound belief emerges most noticeably in the latter part of Dove's reflection: "I stopped working to comprehend how individuals might stop working to be moved by art". Here, Dove underscores her deep perplexity and disappointment at the psychological disconnect between individuals and literature. Art, in its numerous kinds, has actually traditionally worked as a beacon of human experience, using brand-new point of views, compassion, and emotional depth. Dove's use of "stopped working to understand" reveals an authentic bewilderment-- how could something so main to human experience be ignored?

In this quote, Rita Dove encapsulates a more comprehensive existential query into the waning appreciation of literature, invoking a call for re-engagement with the timeless power of art to provoke thought, sensation, and eventually, a shared human connection.