Through the frequent reading of fine language, readers internalize a model of excellent prose or poetry. Readers are able to sympathize or empathize with characters. Even the villains, who, like all human beings, are complex and not one dimensional, provoke as much pity as censure. Through character identification, many readers befriend characters who serve as role models to the readers. For every reader, there are some book characters who become part of the reader's life.
Literature reflects the values of a society.
In our pluralistic society, commendable books include a variety of central characters, including females and minorities who have individual, rather than stereotypic roles. Characters, both noble and flawed, derive from every socio-economic class and geographic region. In better books, the plot is an important, significant problem that is resolved through credible complication and trials and errors. A significant problem is not necessarily a tremendous problem. What to do about the small and ordinary things of daily life constitutes, in many instances, important problems to readers.