"Literature is about as unnecessarily necessarily as tableware or ironed shirts"

Peter Bichsel's quote, "Literature is about as unnecessarily necessarily as tableware or ironed shirts," provides a compelling juxtaposition that prompts a much deeper reflection of the worth and role of literature in human life. At first look, Bichsel appears to draw a comparison to items and activities deemed non-essential yet everywhere present in life, like tableware and ironed t-shirts. These are not basic to survival, yet play an integral function in the order and aesthetic experience of everyday life. Likewise, literature might be deemed non-essential-- after all, one does not require a novel or a poem to satisfy standard physiological needs. Nevertheless, on a more extensive level, literature satisfies an essential role by nurturing the human spirit.

The expression "unnecessarily essential" points to this double nature. Much like tableware, which raises the act of consuming to a shared, cultural experience, or ironed shirts, which bring a sense of respectability and order, literature isn't important for survival but is essential for a richer, fuller experience of life. Literature provides a way to explore complicated human emotions, comprehend varied perspectives, and foster empathy. It challenges readers to think critically, question norms, and embrace the nuances of human presence.

Furthermore, literature as a cultural artifact brings connection and connectivity throughout generations, protecting thoughts, languages, and philosophies that may otherwise fade. It adds to individual and collective identity, using stories in which people can discover pieces of themselves. In contemporary times, where quick technological advances often focus on the functional over the reflective, the function of literature as a medium of introspection and cultural connection ends up being ever more essential.

In conclusion, Bichsel's metaphor highlights a paradoxical truth: while literature might be viewed as an unneeded luxury, it is, in reality, as essential to the cultivation of the human condition as any ritual or cultural practice that has persisted throughout history.